Vladimir Putin’s increasing isolation on the world stage and struggle to feed his war machine were laid bare on Wednesday as he met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
He held talks with the leader of the pariah state at a cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East.
Kim, who runs the world’s most secretive regime in North Korea with brutal repression, heaped praise on Putin, whose war in Ukraine has killed tens of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers, as well as thousands of civilians.
The summit is being watched closely by Washington, London and other allies, who suspect the two leaders could agree to trade arms and defence technology.
US and South Korean officials have expressed concern that Kim will provide weapons and ammunition to Russia, which has expended vast stocks in more than 18 months of war in Ukraine.
In return, North Korea would get help for its ailing programme to put up spy satellites.
Moscow and Pyongyang have denied such intentions.
But Alicia Kearns, chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee at Westminster, told The Standard: “The Putin-Kim meeting confirms Russia’s isolation, and his willingness to define his own legacy as one dependent on tin pot dictators accused of mass torture and executions.
“The concern primarily is arms sales which Putin would use to continue war crimes in Ukraine…Putin it seems will embrace anyone to continue his murderous path. In return it seems Putin may help Kim continue his vanity projects conducted at the cost of the lives of North Koreans, including space and satellite partnerships.”
The Russian president’s increasing isolation, after he launched his bloody war in Ukraine in February last year, was further evident from his failure to turn up to this weekend’s G20 summit in Delhi, and fewer African leaders recently attending a summit in St Petersburg, than a similar Russia-Africa gathering in 2019.
The Russian president’s increasing isolation, after he launched his bloody war in Ukraine in February last year, was further evident from his failure to turn up to the G20 summit in Delhi, and fewer African leaders attending a summit in St Petersburg, than a similar Russia-Africa gathering in 2019.
Putin and Kim began their meeting with a tour at Russia’s remote Vostochny Cosmodrome, a satellite launch facility, on Wednesday, suggesting North Korea could be seeking Russian help to develop military satellite technology.
The talks came hours after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles toward the sea in its latest provocation towards South Korea. South Korean officials didn’t immediately say how far the North Korean missiles flew.
Asked whether Russia will help North Korea build satellites, Putin was quoted by Russian state media as saying: “That’s why we have come here. The DPRK [North Korean] leader shows keen interest in rocket technology. They’re trying to develop space, too.”
Asked about military cooperation, Putin added: “We will talk about all issues without a rush. There is time.”
Putin welcomed Kim’s limousine, brought from Pyongyang in the North Korean leader’s special armoured train, at the entrance to the launch facility with a handshake that lasted around 40 seconds.
The Russian leader said he was “very glad to see” the North Korean dictator, while Mr Kim’s translator thanked Putin for the warm welcome, “despite being busy.”
Kim claimed Putin’s regime was fighting a sacred war with the West and that the two countries would together battle with “imperialism”.
North Korea may have tens of millions of ageing artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could give a huge boost to the Russian army in Ukraine, analysts say.
The North Korean delegation included Jo Chun Ryong, a ruling party official in charge of munitions policies.
Mr Kim said his decision to visit Russia four years after his previous visit showed how Pyongyang is “prioritising the strategic importance” of its relations with Moscow, North Korean state media said.
Alongside military technology, he could also seek economic aid for his regime. An arms deal would violate international sanctions that Russia supported in the past.
The US has previously accused North Korea of providing Russia with arms, including selling artillery shells to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which it denies.
Speculation about their military cooperation grew after the Russian defence minister visited North Korea in July, touring a weapons factory.