Seoul, Sep 15 (EFE).- North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un on Friday arrived aboard his armored train at Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a town in the eastern Russian region of Khabarovsk, where he was to visit an aircraft factory, reported Russian state news agency TASS.

A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) delivering a speech during a banquet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials (not pictured) in Russia, 13 September 2023 (issued 14 September 2023). EFE/EPA/KCNA EDITORIAL USE ONLY

At the station, a red carpet was rolled out for Kim as he was received by Khabarovsk Region Governor Mikhail Degtyarev and Komsomolsk-on-Amur Mayor Alexander Zhornik, and he was given the traditional Russian offering of bread and salt.

Kim has been traveling in Russia since Sep. 12 and, after holding a summit with President Vladimir Putin in which it is believed that a controversial exchange of weapons and technology was agreed, he is expected to remain in the country at least until Saturday.

After the reception, the North Korean leader headed to the aircraft factory, according to TASS.

The plant, belonging to Russia’s main aviation conglomerate, produces fighter jets such as the Su-35 and Su-57 and commercial aircraft such as the Superjet 100.

Although Putin had said that Kim would travel by plane to Komsomolsk from Vostochny (Amur region), where the pair met on Wednesday, the North Korean leader apparently chose to make the journey of more than 1,100 kilometers in his special armored train.

Although the details have not been made public, Putin said after Wednesday’s meeting that there is room for military and space cooperation between the two countries.

A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows Russia’Äôs Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (2-L), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (3-L), President Vladimir Putin (4-L) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (5-R) toasting during a banquet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials (not pictured) in Russia, 13 September 2023 (issued 14 September 2023). EFE/EPA/KCNA EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The United States, South Korea and Japan insisted again on Thursday that an agreement of this nature would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions affecting Pyongyang.

According to media outlets such as the New York Times last week, citing US intelligence sources, Kim could be willing to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine with anti-tank missiles and artillery ammunition, while Pyongyang could receive food aid and satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology in return. EFE

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