Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russia’s defence minister discussed practical issues to boost military co-operation, state media said on Sunday, in what Pyongyang calls a “fresh heyday” for bilateral relations.
During his visit to Russia, Kim inspected Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships on Saturday, accompanied by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) looks at a military jet cockpit while visiting a Russian aircraft plant that builds fighter jets.Credit: AP
Continuing his now week-long train journey, Kim will go to several food enterprises, Russia’s RIA news agency reported on Sunday.
The trip by the North Korean leader, who seldom leaves his country, comes as “a fresh heyday of friendship and solidarity and co-operation is being opened up in the history of the development of the relations between the DPRK and Russia,” state KCNA news agency said, using the initials for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed military matters, the war in Ukraine and deepening co-operation last week.
The United States and its allies are worried about warming military ties between the two neighbours as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine and North Korea proceeds with missile and nuclear development.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during their meeting.Credit: AP
South Korea and the US said on Friday that military co-operation between North Korea and Russia would violate UN sanctions against Pyongyang and that the allies would ensure there was a price to pay.
Russia has gone out of its way to publicise Kim’s visit, dropping repeated hints about the prospect of military co-operation with North Korea, a country formed in 1948 with the backing of the Soviet Union.