During an official lunch hosted by Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un disclosed his belief that Russia will emerge victorious, apparently referring to the war in Ukraine.
The lunch followed after the two leaders met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
The lunch reportedly featured Siberian and Russia’s Far Eastern delicacies, such as Kamchatka crab dumplings and taiga lingonberries with pine nuts and condensed milk.
The North Korean leader told Putin via a translator on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, that he was sure that the Russian army and people would achieve victory against “a great evil.”
“I am deeply convinced that the heroic Russian army and people will brilliantly inherit the tradition of victory, confidently demonstrate invaluable dignity and honour on the fronts of the special military operation.
“The Russian army and people will certainly win a great victory in the sacred struggle for the punishment of a great evil that claims hegemony and feeds an expansionist illusion.”
Kim Jong Un
Special military operation is Russia’s preferred term for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022.
The North Korean leader added that he had an “in-depth discussion with Putin on the “political and military landscape of Korean Peninsula and Europe.”
As well as offering a toast to Putin’s health, Kim also said the pair had agreed on a further deepening of strategic cooperation.
Putin in turn proposed a toast for strengthening friendship and the wellbeing between the people of the two nations.
Additionally, Putin disclosed that Kim Jong-un would continue his tour of Russia’s far east with a visit to Vladivostok and to defence and other factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
Putin was cited as saying that Russia would demonstrate to Kim in Vladivostok the capabilities of its Pacific Fleet.
He added that Russia also had something to offer North Korea in the area of agriculture.
Putin also said there were opportunities for bilateral military-technical cooperation, though he added that Russia would comply with its international obligations.
Peskov Calls Putin’s Meeting With Kim “Substantive”
Moreover, Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, noted that discussions between Putin and Kim were “important and substantive.”
Speaking after the two leaders held talks in Russia’s far east region, Peskov stated that North Korea was interested in cooperation with Russia in the areas of aviation and transport.
Peskov added that Russia sees prospects for cooperating with North Korea in space.
The choice of venue for the meeting between Putin and Kim was significant, given North Korea’s interest in pursuing a space programme.
Vostochny Cosmodrome is Russia’s most important domestic satellite launch center.
Meanwhile, Britain urged North Korea to end talks over the sale of arms to Russia.
“We urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and to abide by public commitments Pyongyang has made not to sell arms to Russia,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson told reporters.
“This visit serves to highlight Russia’s isolation on the global stage, and as the world unites against Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and he has been forced to turn to regimes such as North Korea,” the spokesperson added.
The US is most alarmed by Putin’s reported interest in North Korean weaponry, and said last week that Pyongyang would “pay a price” if it supplied Russia.
South Korea and the U.S have said that any arms deal would violate UN security council resolutions supported by Russia.
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