Russia, DPRK bolstering cooperation against Western pressure: Lavrov
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Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Russia underline their keenness for mutual cooperation as they vow to bolster their partnership against the West.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un examine a launch pad during their meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, Russia, Sept. 13, 2023 (AP)
Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are set to forge a resilient partnership impervious to Western pressure, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.
This follows a high-level meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Russia's Far East.
The two leaders are meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport some 1,000 kilometers from Vladivostok.
During a televised interview with Russia-1 channel, Lavrov emphasized the commitment of both nations to establishing a mutually beneficial cooperation shielded from unlawful Western influence.
"We and North Korea will develop, as confirmed by our leaders today, a mutually beneficial cooperation not susceptible to illegal Western pressure," Lavrov stated.
Kim's official visit to Russia, at the invitation of President Putin, was marked by a high-level delegation and a comprehensive meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Region.
The negotiations, lasting approximately six hours, included a four-hour discussion between the two leaders. This visit marks Kim Jong Un's second trip to Russia, with his previous visit taking place in 2019.
"Our meeting is taking place at a very special time, after all. Most recently, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea celebrated 75 years of its creation and foundation. 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. Let me remind you that it was our country that was the first to recognize the sovereign independent state – the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Putin said at the start of the meeting.
"Then very soon we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the War of Independence and the victory of the Korean people in this war. This is a landmark date because our country also helped our friends in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fight for this independence."
Read more: DPRK, Russia to hold negotiations during Kim's visit: Kremlin
Accompanying Kim Jong Un on this diplomatic mission was his sister, Kim Yo Jong. She made a notable appearance at the gala dinner hosted by President Putin in honor of her brother. However, it was reported that she did not actively participate in the formal talks.
Kim Yo Jong's name was conspicuously absent from the list of participants in Wednesday's discussions despite her presence when the DPRK leader visited the test building and signed the guest book at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Military cooperation and more
Putin said the location was chosen as Moscow plans to help DPRK with its satellite programs, RIA Novosti reported.
"The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket technology, and they are trying to develop (their presence in) space," Putin said.
When asked by reporters whether military cooperation would be on the agenda, Putin's answer was, "We'll talk about all the issues, without haste. There is time."
With his accompanying delegation that suggested a strong military focus for the summit, the DPRK leader traveled overland to Russia in his bullet-proof train, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
During the discussions, Kim Jong Un expressed keen interest in exploring various areas of cooperation with Russia.
"Our friendship has deep roots, and now relations with the Russian Federation are the first priority for our country. I am sure that our meeting will be the next step to take relations to a new level," Kim stressed.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov elaborated on the topics covered during the meeting, revealing that President Putin highlighted Russia's extensive transport capabilities.
"He [Kim Jong Un] was really interested in all areas of cooperation. Our president has already told his North Korean counterpart about the opportunities we have," Peskov revealed.
"Putin spoke about our transport capabilities and [Transport] Minister [Vitaly Savelyev] shared more information. This includes our airport network, how many ports we have, and how our transport system and aviation generally work," he added.
In addition to transport, Kim Jong Un also displayed a keen interest in forging partnerships in health, education, and other humanitarian fields, underscoring the multifaceted nature of the discussions.
DPRK cosmonauts in space?
A notable aspect of the meeting was the discussion regarding the possibility of sending a DPRK cosmonaut into space. Dmitry Peskov confirmed this, stating, "We talked about the fact that if the DPRK side wishes, a DPRK cosmonaut can be trained to be sent into space."
Putin and Kim inspected the launch facility of the Soyuz-2 space rocket complex at the spaceport, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
The two leaders have also inspected the process of construction of the launch facility of the Angara space rocket complex, which started in 2019.
When questioned about the possibility of President Putin reciprocating the visit with a return trip to the DPRK, Peskov clarified that no such plans are currently in place. He emphasized the importance of developing neighborly relations that align with Russia's interests.
As the DPRK and Russia strengthen their diplomatic ties, their commitment to bolstering cooperation across various sectors underscores their resilience in the face of Western pressure and their determination to chart their own course on the international stage.
