North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday discussed military matters, the war in Ukraine, and possible Russian help for Pyongyang’s satellite programme as the two leaders sat down for a rare summit. The talks were held for several hours with their ministers where world affairs were discussed and possible areas of cooperation one-on-one. The meeting was followed by an opulent lunch of Russian "pelmeni" dumplings stuffed with Kamchatka crab and then sturgeon with mushrooms and potatoes.
The Russian President gave numerous hints that military cooperation was discussed but disclosed a few details. The talks were attended by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu also. The Kremlin said sensitive discussions between neighbours were a private matter.
In response to questions by Russian media if Moscow would help Kim build satellites, Putin said, "That's why we came here."
During the lunch, Kim raised a toast with a glass of Russian wine to Putin's health, to the victory of "great Russia" and to Korean-Russian friendship, predicting victory for Moscow in its "sacred fight" with the West in the Ukraine war, as per the Reuters report.
"The Russian army and people will certainly win a great victory in the sacred struggle for the punishment of a great evil that claims hegemony and feeds an expansionist illusion," said the North Korea's leader, raising his glass.
Putin showed around his country’s most advanced space rocket launch site to Kim and discussed the possibility of sending a North Korean cosmonaut into space, reported Reuters.
During the meeting, Kim invited Putin to visit North Korea and the Russian President accepted the invitation, according to North's state news agency KCNA.
"Won't Hesitate" To Impose More Sanctions: US
The Kim-Putin summit is being closely watched by the United States and allies which have expressed concerns over an arms deal between the two countries. On Wednesday, the US warned that it will "not hesitate" to impose more sanctions on Russia and North Korea if they conclude any new arms deal.
"We have taken a number of actions already to sanction entities that brokered arms sales between North Korea and Russia and we won't hesitate to impose additional actions if appropriate," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing.
He said that it was troubling that the two nations are discussing increased coopertion that could violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.
"When you see what looks to be increased cooperation and probably military transfers, that is quite troubling and would potentially be in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," he added, according to a Reuters report.
Japan Warns Against 'Violations'
Japan has also warned against "violations" of UN ban on arms deals with North Korea amid talks between Moscow and Pyongyang. "We are watching (the talks) with concerns including the possibility that it could lead to violations of the Security Council's ban on all arms-related material transactions with North Korea," said apanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, according to AFP.
South Korea's ruling party also slammed the meeting calling it a "devil's deal".