North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has commenced his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, shortly after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast.
According to Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti, Kim arrived at the cosmodrome in Russia’s eastern Amur region on Wednesday morning, only minutes after Putin’s arrival.
The two leaders greeted each other with a handshake, as seen in video footage from the Kremlin. Putin expressed his delight at seeing Kim, and Kim thanked Putin for the invitation to visit Russia, despite his busy schedule, as reported by Russian state media.
The talks between Kim and Putin are anticipated to encompass potential weapons sales, with the North Korean leader accompanied by high-ranking officials from the military and the weapons industry.
During the visit to the cosmodrome, Putin told state media reporters that “all issues” were open for discussion, and he indicated that Russia would assist North Korea in constructing satellites.
Russia’s conflict in Ukraine necessitates Putin to secure much-needed weaponry at the summit, while Kim hopes to obtain economic assistance and military technology in exchange.
Shortly before the summit began, South Korea and Japan reported the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles from North Korea’s east coast.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launches in an area around Sunan, just north of Pyongyang, between approximately 11:43 am and 11:53 am GMT. The data was under analysis, and South Korea increased surveillance and readiness in preparation for potential further launches while cooperating closely with the US.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno announced that Japan had lodged a diplomatic protest against North Korea through channels in Beijing. The two missiles landed in the sea outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
