Seoul, Sep 17 (EFE).- North Koreas’ leader Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke about strengthening their countries’ military cooperation and coordination, North Korean state media reported Sunday.
A handout picture made available by the Russian Defence Ministry’s press-service shows North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (C) and Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (2-L) inspects a Russian hypersonic ‘Kinzhal’ missile displayed at Knevichi aerodrome near Vladivostok in the Primorsky region, Russia, 16 September 2023. EFE/EPA/RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
After Kim inspected Russian strategic bombers and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and visited a Pacific Fleet headquarters near the city of Vladivostok on Saturday, Shoigu organized a lunch for the North Korean leader and his delegation, KCNA reported.
During the event, Shoigu expressed “his will to further deepen the friendship and cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries,” while his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun-nam spoke of his “willingness to further strengthen the militant unity and cooperation with the Russian army.”
Afterwards, Shoigu and Kim “exchanged their constructive opinions on the practical issues arising in further strengthening the strategic and tactical coordination, cooperation and mutual exchange between the armed forces of the two countries and in the fields of their national defense and security,” KCNA said.
On Saturday evening, Kim watched a ballet performance of “Sleeping Beauty” in Vladivostok, it added.
A handout photo made available by the Governor of Primorsky Region Oleg Kozhemyako’s press service shows North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (C) arrives at a railway station in the town of Artyom outside Vladivostok in the Primorsky region, Russia, 16 September 2023. EFE/EPA/GOVERNOR OF PRIMORSKY REGION HANDOUT MANDATORY CREDIT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
During his trip to Russia, the longest Kim has made since he began governing in 2011, the North Korean leader and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin held a summit at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in the Amur region, and although the details have not been made public, Putin said after the meeting that there is room for military and space cooperation between the two countries.
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, in addition to food aid, satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology.
Kim has been traveling in Russia since Sep. 12 but it is not yet known which day he will leave the country. EFE
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