World Courant
Individuals sit close to a tv information broadcast displaying photos of North Korean chief Kim Jong Un (R) greeting Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) on the Pyongyang Sunan Worldwide Airport in Pyongyang at a prepare station in Seoul on June 19, 2024 .
Anthony Wallace | Episode | Getty Photos
Even the lengthy anticipate Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in Pyongyang within the early hours of Wednesday morning was not sufficient to dampen Kim Jong Un’s enthusiasm for his “comrade.”
Ready on the runway as Putin stepped off his airplane shortly earlier than 3am. native time, hours delayedNorth Korean chief Kim Jong Un beamed as he greeted his Russian counterpart with a handshake and a hug. North Korea’s state-controlled information company KCNA stated Kim “couldn’t comprise his pleasure” over what it described as a “touching reunion”.
As a big motorcade accompanied the leaders to the capital, whose streets have been coated with Russian flags and portraits of Putin, Kim praised the “historic” occasion – Putin’s first go to to North Korea in 24 years and a now rarer journey overseas for the president – and the “invincibility and solidity” of the connection between Russia and North Korea.
After a lavish welcome ceremony on Wednesday morning, throughout which tens of hundreds of North Koreans lined the streets, cheering and chanting in honor of Putin’s go to, the Russian chief thanked North Korea for its “constant and hesitant help for Russian insurance policies, together with within the Ukrainian route.”
On this polar picture distributed by the Russian state company Sputnik, North Korean chief Kim Jong Un (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Pyongyang early June 19, 2024.
Gavriil Grigorov | Episode | Getty Photos
Putin additionally indicated that the states might signal a “complete strategic partnership” in the course of the journey, indicating that this isn’t only a pleasant state go to to strengthen diplomatic relations, however a go to to facilitate mutually helpful strategic transactions – the quid professional quo – to increase between international locations.
What can North Korea get from Putin?
At first look, North Korea looks like the supplicant in its relationship with Russia, however Pyongyang has an ace up its sleeve in relation to Moscow, not less than for now: It could actually provide Moscow with thousands and thousands of artillery shells and short-range ballistic weapons. missiles to be used in opposition to Ukraine.
Western officers accuse North Korea of circumventing worldwide sanctions to switch ammunition and missiles to Russia, though Pyongyang has denied any such arms switch has taken place. In return, Russia will doubtless present North Korea with meals, gasoline and navy know-how for its satellites and submarines, analysts say.
“North Korea has actually seen a beautiful alternative for itself in Russia’s isolation from the world,” Rodger Baker, govt director of the Stratfor Middle for Utilized Geopolitics, informed CNBC on Wednesday.
“North Korea has lengthy been extremely depending on China and even when Russia can seize 5 to 10% of North Korea’s commerce, that can be a giant benefit for the North Koreans. The Russians are (additionally) speaking about methods during which each international locations can keep away from the commerce battle. “Western sanctions and monetary restrictions imply North Korea could expertise new flows of financial exercise, not solely with Russia however presumably internationally,” he stated.
For Kim, the precedence can be requests for brand spanking new superior navy know-how transfers, in keeping with Vice President James Brady and senior adviser Victor Cha of the Teneo consultancy.
“It’s unclear how a lot Putin can be keen to present, however Kim’s want checklist contains applied sciences associated to superior telemetry, nuclear-powered submarines, navy satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Russian know-how doubtless contributed to the primary profitable launch of navy spy satellites in Pyongyang in November 2023 – simply two months after the final Putin-Kim summit,” they stated in a word on Tuesday.
Kim might additionally attempt to use a “excessive watermark” in ties to succeed in a brand new bilateral safety partnership settlement, much like a mutual protection treaty signed by North Korea and the USSR in 1961, which remained in drive till about 1990.
Able to roll out the crimson carpet…Staff carry a carpet throughout a rehearsal of the welcoming ceremony for Russian President Putin on June 18, 2024 in Pyongyang, North Korea. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for a two-day go to to North Korea.
Contributor | Getty Photos Information | Getty Photos
Not surprisingly, Kim is proud to point out his personal folks and the world that he has a robust pal in Putin. North Korea, remoted on the worldwide geopolitical stage and severely punished for its nuclear weapons program and missile assessments, is extensively considered by the West as a “pariah” and “rogue state.”
Whereas the streets of Pyongyang glittered with Putin’s arrival, the bitter actuality in North Korea is that abject poverty and meals and gasoline shortages are the order of the day for almost all of the inhabitants residing below the Kim’s totalitarian rule. dynasty lives.
“Along with the sensible outcomes, the go to additionally gives a profile enhance for Kim, who can play the function of statesman for each the home and worldwide audiences,” stated Brady and Cha.
What does Russia get?
Whereas North Korea and Russia can reward the depth and power of their relationship for now, the truth that Putin has not visited the nation previously 24 years speaks volumes.
On this swimming pool picture distributed by Russia’s state company Sputnik, North Korea’s chief Kim Jong Un (L) walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout a welcome ceremony upon Putin’s arrival in Pyongyang early June 19, 2024.
Gavriil Grigorov | Episode | Getty Photos
Nonetheless, because the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia’s standing and priorities have modified. The nation’s isolation from the West has change into important because it has accelerated its flip to the East because the nation seems for allies and clients for its oil and uncooked supplies.
In the meantime, Russia’s military-industrial advanced has been placed on battle footing at residence, although analysts say it nonetheless faces a scarcity of what it may well produce month-to-month and what it spends on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Putin wants Kim’s weapons to make up for a month-to-month ammunition scarcity of fifty,000 rounds, at the same time as Russia produces ammunition at full capability in pursuit of victory in Ukraine, the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research stated famous on Monday.
As such, North Korea affords Russia a brand new supply of navy {hardware}. Though each side deny any arms transfers happened, U.S. officers allege Pyongyang has provided Russia with dozens of ballistic missiles and greater than 11,000 containers of ammunition for the battle in Ukraine.
“The character of the go to makes it unlikely that each one outcomes can be publicly introduced, however the goals of each events are clear. For Putin, the principle purpose is to safe a continued provide of weapons and ammunition to help Russia’s battle in Ukraine. “Mentioned Brady and Cha from Teneo.
“There could possibly be a co-production settlement for various kinds of ammunition, in addition to an order for extra ballistic missiles. This pressing want for navy provides has reworked the dynamics of bilateral relations over the previous two years, making Pyongyang a way more helpful nation. accomplice for Moscow.”
what do Kim Jong Un and Putin get from one another?
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