Kim Jong-un arrived at the Russian cosmodrome to meet Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met at the Russian Vostochny cosmodrome, in eastern Russia, on the morning of Wednesday, September 13. They exchanged a handshake there according to a video published by the Kremlin.

The two leaders will talk about “commercial relations” and “international affairs” at the spacecraft launch base, Russian news agencies reported.

Negotiations between Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un began at the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Amur region: https://t.co/MQds2eglWe

Video: Kremlin. ru pic.twitter.com/mZrQ4cyxIt

— TASS (@tass_agency) September 13, 2023

“I’m very happy to see you. I thank you for coming to Russia,” declared Vladimir Putin in introduction to these discussions, according to images broadcast on Russian television, specifying that the discussions will focus in particular on the “situation in the region”, “economic cooperation” and “humanitarian issues”.

Sale of weapons

A few moments earlier, Russian agencies had reported the arrival of the two leaders on site. The Russian head of state had refused to communicate his program on site in advance.

The two men must in particular talk about “sensitive subjects”, had indicated in advance the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov. According to Washington, the meeting could lead to an agreement to sell arms from North Korea to Russia to support the Russian offensive in Ukraine.

Departing Pyongyang on Sunday evening aboard an armored train, Kim Jong-un is making his first trip abroad since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. He had already met Vladimir Putin during his previous trip abroad, to Vladivostok in 2019.

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