Putin's historic state visit to DPRK kicks off

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Jun 2024 22:39

The Russian president is scheduled to engage in discussions in multiple formats, primarily on Wednesday, with an informal meeting between the two leaders also planned.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and DPRK’s leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the city of Blagoveshchensk in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, on September 13, 2023. (AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived Tuesday in DPRK for a state visit, where he was welcomed at the airport by leader Kim Jong Un, according to Sputnik.

The Russian President is scheduled to engage in discussions in multiple formats primarily on Wednesday, with an informal meeting between the two leaders also planned.

Putin and Kim began their conversation almost immediately upon meeting. Before reaching their convoy of cars, the leaders stopped and engaged in a lively discussion for several minutes.

The Russian President was welcomed by the DPRK's honor guard battalion. After the initial greetings, Putin and Kim Jong Un departed Pyongyang airport together in an Aurus car.

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Prior to Putin's late-night arrival, large banners featuring a smiling photograph of the Russian leader with the message "We ardently welcome President Putin!" were displayed on lampposts throughout Pyongyang, along with Russian flags, as shown in images from Russian state media.

It is worth noting that this trip is Putin's first to the DPRK in 24 years.

"We highly appreciate that the DPRK (North Korea) is firmly supporting the special military operations of Russia being conducted in Ukraine," Putin wrote in an article published by Pyongyang's state media on Tuesday.

Russia and the DPRK are "now actively developing the many-sided partnership", Putin added.

💬 President Vladimir #Putin: We are also ready to closely work together [with the DPRK] to bring more democracy and stability to international relations.

❗️ To do this, we will develop alternative trade and mutual settlements mechanisms not controlled by the West. pic.twitter.com/cEyCD8EKcM
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) June 18, 2024

Putin praised DPRK for "defending their interests very effectively despite the US economic pressure, provocation, blackmail and military threats that have lasted for decades."

He also hailed Moscow and Pyongyang for "maintaining the common line and stand at the UN."

Meanwhile, DPRK said the visit showed bilateral ties "are getting stronger day by day," the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

The United States expressed "concern" regarding Putin's visit due to what it perceives as potential security implications for both South Korea and Ukraine.

In the same context, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated Putin's trip showed how he was "dependent on authoritarian leaders."

On Tuesday, the Kremlin announced plans to sign a "strategic partnership" treaty with DPRK through a released document.

It is worth noting that the DPRK leader paid a state visit to Russia last year, and relations have grown amid Moscow’s war on Ukraine since February 2022, which has drawn criticism from US-led Western nations.

Earlier this year, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on January 15 that Russia aimed to further develop its partnership with the DPRK in all areas, emphasizing that dialogue will continue at all levels.

"First of all, North Korea is our neighbor, our closest neighbor, our partner with whom we are developing and intend to further develop partnership in all areas ... Dialogue with North Korea will continue at all levels," Peskov announced.