(Moscow) Vladimir Putin will be in North Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday, an exceptional visit at the end of which a strategic partnership agreement could be signed between these two countries that the West perceives as threats.
Americans and Europeans have been worried for months about the accelerated rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang, accusing the North Koreans of delivering munitions to Russia for its assault on Ukraine in exchange for technological, diplomatic and food assistance.
Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic adviser, Yuri Ushakov, presented Mr. Putin’s trip as a strong moment for the two countries which are under Western sanctions, and said he hoped that a strategic partnership agreement would be signed.
“Important, very significant documents” will be signed, he told Russian media, referring to “the possible conclusion of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.”
“This treaty, if signed, will of course be conditioned by the profound evolution of the geopolitical situation in the world and in the region and by the qualitative changes that have recently taken place in our bilateral relations,” he said. he noted, saying he expected “a decision on his signature to be made in the coming hours.”
According to the same source, Mr. Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will also make “statements to the press” and the Russian president will attend a concert given in his honor.
The master of the Kremlin will be accompanied in particular by his head of diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, his Minister of Defense, Andrei Beloussov, two deputy prime ministers and the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
The Russian president will then visit Vietnam, another partner of Russia from the Soviet era, on June 19 and 20.
The trip to North Korea will come nine months after Mr. Putin hosted Kim Jong-un in the Russian Far East, a visit during which the two men praised each other but did not conclude, officially at least, okay.
Western sources say Pyongyang has been drawing on its vast stockpiles of munitions to massively resupply Russia, and the Pentagon last week accused Moscow of using North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine.
In return, according to Washington and Seoul, Russia provided North Korea with expertise for its satellite program and sent aid to address the country’s food shortages.
In March, Russia used its veto at the UN Security Council to end monitoring of international sanctions violations targeting North Korea, a major gift to Pyongyang.
Kim Jong-un on Wednesday touted the “unbreakable, brother-in-arms” ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, which date back to Soviet times, ahead of the Russian leader’s visit.
During his trip to Russia in September 2023, he had already declared that ties with Moscow were his country’s “number one priority.”
Analysts have also warned of increased testing and production of artillery and cruise missiles by nuclear-armed North Korea in preparation for future arms deliveries to Russia for its assault on Ukraine.
South Korea said Thursday it was “closely monitoring preparations” for Vladimir Putin’s visit, calling on Moscow to “contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula while respecting Security Council resolutions” of the UN.
Seoul has provided significant military aid to Ukraine, where South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited last month, and is taking part in Western sanctions against Moscow.
Vladimir Putin presents his assault on Ukraine and his diplomatic efforts as a battle to fight American hegemony on the international stage, and prides himself on the support of the Chinese giant.
China is North Korea’s main economic supporter and diplomatic ally.
This is only the second visit to North Korea by the Russian leader, who last went there almost a quarter of a century ago, shortly after he came to power, to meet Father by Kim Jung Un, Kim Jong-il.
Ahead of his visit to North Korea, several senior Russian officials, including the head of the foreign intelligence service Sergei Naryshkin, traveled to Pyongyang.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui was in Moscow in January.
