MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in North Korea on Wednesday, marking his first visit to the isolated nation in 24 years. The trip aims to bolster defense ties between the two nuclear-armed countries as Moscow continues its war in Ukraine.
Ahead of Putin’s arrival, Pyongyang was adorned with large banners and Russian flags, welcoming the Russian leader with messages such as “we ardently welcome President Putin!” displayed prominently across the city, Russian state media reported.
Russia and North Korea have maintained strong relations since the latter’s founding post-World War II. The relationship has deepened further since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led to international isolation for Putin. The United States and its allies have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with much-needed arms, including ballistic missiles, for use in Ukraine—a claim North Korea has denied.
In an article published by Pyongyang’s state media on Tuesday, Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea’s support of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. “We highly appreciate that the DPRK (North Korea) is firmly supporting the special military operations of Russia being conducted in Ukraine,” Putin wrote. He highlighted the active development of a multifaceted partnership between the two nations.
Both Russia and North Korea are subject to extensive UN sanctions—Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang for its banned nuclear and ballistic missile programs since 2006. Putin praised North Korea for effectively defending its interests despite prolonged US economic pressure, provocation, blackmail, and military threats. He also commended the cooperation between the two countries in maintaining a unified stance at the UN.
The United States voiced concern over Putin’s visit due to potential security implications for both South Korea and Ukraine. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted, “We know North Korean ballistic missiles are still being used to hit Ukrainian targets (and) there could be some reciprocity here that could affect security on the Korean peninsula.”
Highlighting regional security tensions, South Korea reported that its troops fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the border on Tuesday before retreating. South Korea’s military suggested that the crossing was accidental as the soldiers were fortifying the border and noted that some were injured by landmines.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg remarked on Putin’s reliance on authoritarian allies, stating, “Their closest friends and the biggest supporters of the Russian war effort—war of aggression—(are) North Korea, Iran, and China.”
The Kremlin announced plans to sign a “strategic partnership” treaty with North Korea. Experts suggest that Pyongyang, facing chronic resource shortages, is likely to seek advanced military technology from Russia to enhance its nuclear, missile, satellite, and nuclear-powered submarine programs.
