Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit North Korea early next week. The upcoming meeting between Kim Jong Un and Putin will likely showcase the significantly advanced North Korean-Russian relationship and serve as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in military and economic fields further.
On June 12, Rodong Sinmun publicized the contents of the message that Kim sent to Putin on Russia Day. In his message, Kim referred to the North Korean-Russian summit held at the Vostochny Cosmodrome on September 2023, saying, “The North Korean-Russian friendly cooperative relationship is constantly being strengthened and developed into a higher level of national relationship. Our relationship has been sublimated into an invincible comradeship and a strategic relationship of a century-long plan.”
Kim emphasized, “The deep ties and close comradeship that will continue between us will further solidify the ten-year foundation of the relationship between our countries in the era. The North Korean-Russian relationship will vigorously promote the construction of a strong nation in both countries and actively contribute to realizing peace and security in the world and genuine international justice.” He added, “Only victory and prosperity will always lie ahead for the people of the two countries, who are firmly united by a common goal and ideal.”
With talk of Putin’s imminent visit to North Korea, Kim’s emphasis on the future relationship between both countries seems to be an intention to utilize the upcoming summit as another opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties.
Japanese media outlet NHK cited senior Russian government officials and reported that Putin will visit North Korea early next week. Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) also reported that a large structure, presumed to be related to an event for Putin’s visit, appears to have been installed in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square.
During this meeting, the two leaders are expected to reaffirm their close ties in various fields, including military, politics, economy, and culture. Specifically, issues related to military cooperation, such as supporting weapons to Russia which has been at war with Ukraine for over two years, and issues related to economic cooperation like the dispatch of North Korean workers and the expansion of North Korean tourism, are expected to be on the table.
If the September 2023 meeting between the two leaders was a step toward laying the foundation for North Korean-Russian relations, this meeting is likely to highlight the already significantly advanced relationship between the two countries. The meeting is expected to be more of a showcase or event-like meeting rather than a close consultation for actual results.
Since Putin’s visit to North Korea is a return visit to Kim’s visit to Russia in September 2023 and his first visit to North Korea in 24 years, a grand welcome from Kim is expected.
Some interpret Putin’s strong will to visit North Korea just a month after he visited China as a signal of his will to strengthen the North Korea-China-Russia alliance against U.S.-Japan-South Korea.