North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month to discuss the potential provision of weapons to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to a U.S. official. The meeting will take place in Russia, although the exact location is yet to be confirmed. The news was first reported by The New York Times.
This meeting comes after the White House announced that arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are progressing. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently traveled to North Korea to persuade Pyongyang to provide artillery ammunition to Russia. Following the visit, Putin and Kim exchanged letters expressing their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation.
According to U.S. intelligence, another group of Russian officials traveled to Pyongyang for further discussions about a possible arms deal between the two countries. The U.S. is urging North Korea to cease these negotiations and adhere to its public commitments to not supply weapons to Russia. The U.S. is prepared to take direct action, including imposing sanctions, against individuals and entities facilitating the weapons trade between Russia and North Korea.
The potential arms deal between Russia and North Korea could involve significant quantities and multiple types of munitions, which Russia would use in its ongoing war against Ukraine. However, such an agreement would violate several United Nations Security Council resolutions. The U.S. is determined to identify, expose, and counter any Russian attempts to acquire military equipment from North Korea or any other state that supports the war in Ukraine.
In July, both Russia and China sent high-level delegations to North Korea, the first visits by foreign officials since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. During the trip, Kim showed Shoigu a guided tour of North Korea’s weapons and missiles at an arms exhibition.
This warning about North Korea potentially supplying weapons to Russia comes nearly a year after U.S. officials raised concerns about the Russian Ministry of Defense purchasing rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for the war in Ukraine, based on downgraded intelligence findings. Russia has also used Iranian-made drones to target Ukrainian towns.
The meeting between Kim and Putin holds significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It underscores the need for continued international vigilance and efforts to prevent the illicit trade of weapons between nations.
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