Wed 13 September 2023:
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will assist North Korea in the development of satellites, and when asked if he and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would discuss weapons supplies, Putin stated that the two leaders would discuss all issues.
Earlier on Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the launch facility of the Soyuz-2 space rocket complex at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Region, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
The leaders have also inspected the process of construction of the launch facility of the Angara space rocket complex, which started in 2019.
Earlier in the day, Kim arrived at the railway station of the cosomdrome by train as part of his first visit to Russia since 2019.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have started talks with the participation of delegations at Russia’s Vostochny spaceport, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
The leaders are taking part in talks in a wide format and could later have a one-on-one conversation.
Kim Jong Un Calls Relations with Russia North Korea’s First Priority
“Our friendship has deep roots, and the very first priority for our country now is relations with Russia,” Kim stated at the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Russia’s Vostochny spaceport.
The North Korean leader thanked the Russian president for the invitation to Russia, adding that the visit is taking place “at a very important period.”
“We want to further develop ties [with Russia]. We have always supported all the decisions by President Putin and decisions by the Russian government,” Kim stated.
Kim also expressed confidence that that the meeting will raise bilateral relations between Moscow and Pyongyang to a new level. He added that North Korea would always be together with Russia in the fight against “imperialism.”
When asked about cooperation with North Korea in space, Vladimir Putin emphasized that this is the very reason why they came to Vostochny Cosmodrome.
“The North Korean leadership is interested in rocket construction, they are also trying to develop space technologies,” Putin said.
Referring to the issue of potential cooperation with North Korea in military and technological spheres, Vladimir Putin also said that “they will discuss all issues in no particular hurry” because “they have time”.
Russia is proud of how the country’s space industry is developing, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday.
“I am very glad to see and welcome you again in Russia. This time, as we agreed, [wee meet] at our cosmodrome, the Vostochny cosmodrome. We are proud of how this industry is developing in our country,” Putin said after the inspection of the launch complex.
The president noted that the meeting is taking place at a special time, as the two countries mark 75 years of establishing diplomatic relations and North Korea has recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding, reminding that Russia wast the first to recognize the Asian state.
“We, of course, need to talk about economic cooperation, humanitarian issues, and the situation in the region,” Putin added.
Earlier on Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media, that cooperation between Russia, North Korea are maintained for good of people of two countries and are not aimed against anyone adding that full range of relations implies military-technical cooperation and exchange of views on security.
Russia maintains its position in the UN on sanctions against North Korea, but this is not and will not be an obstacle to the development of bilateral relations, Kremlin spokesman added.
“Russia maintains its position in the United Nations and in the Security Council. But this cannot, should not and will not be an obstacle to the further development of Russian-North Korean relations,” Peskov stressed.
