North Korean leader Kim Jong-un plans to travel to Russia this month to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the possibility of Pyongyang giving Moscow more weapons for the war in Ukraine, US newspapers The New reported on Monday. York Times (NYT) and The Washington Post (WP).
According to the NYT, citing US and allied officials, Putin wants North Korea to sell Russia artillery and anti-tank missiles, while Pyongyang is seeking advanced technology to make satellites and nuclear-powered submarines.
In addition, Kim wants food aid for his country, the New York newspaper detailed.
Kim rarely travels outside of North Korea. To meet Putin, his idea would be to travel from Pyongyang, possibly by armored train, to Vladivostok, on Russia's Pacific coast, according to The New York Times.
In this way, both Putin and Kim would meet on the margins of the Eastern Economic Forum, which will be held between September 12 and 15 at the Far Eastern Federal University, scheduled for that city.
According to WP, citing a US official, the White House already had information last week about the exchange of "letters" between Kim and Putin.
Asked by EFE, the White House did not confirm the information published by both newspapers.
However, Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, explained to EFE that the United States is aware that Kim wants talks on arms sales to Russia to continue and include "diplomatic contact at the level of leaders in Russia."
The United States has been warning for months that Pyongyang has sent weapons to Russian forces for use in Ukraine as the conflict has depleted Russian state reserves.
In December last year, the White House reported that North Korea had delivered rockets and infantry missiles to the Wagner mercenary group, which played a key role in Russia's offensive in eastern Ukraine.
However, following Wagner's failed attempt at an armed rebellion in June, the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang in terms of arms purchases has undergone a significant change: it is now carried out at the government level rather than through the group. Wagner, as the White House said last week.
Specifically, the White House reported that the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, traveled to Pyongyang at the end of July to request the purchase of ammunition for artillery and, since then, both countries have exchanged "letters" with the purpose of strengthening bilateral cooperation.
In addition, according to the White House, after Shoigu's visit, another group of Russian officials traveled to Pyongyang to continue talks on possible arms deals between the two countries.
