Kim Jong Un with Vladimir Putin (PTI image)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held bilateral talks in Beijing after attending a major military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The meeting took place at the Diaoyutai State Guest House and was followed by a formal reception. According to the Kremlin social media post, Putin and Kim traveled together in the same car from the formal reception to the talks, news agency AP reported. At the start of the meeting, Putin praised the “bravery and heroism” of North Korean soldiers, claiming they had fought alongside Russian troops to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region. South Korean assessments suggest that North Korea has sent about 15,000 troops to Russia since last year, along with significant quantities of military equipment, including ballistic missiles and artillery, to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.Kim, in his remarks, highlighted that ties between Russia and North Korea have “significantly strengthened” since the signing of a strategic partnership pact during a summit in Pyongyang last June. While not directly mentioning the conflict, he stressed that North Korea considered support for Russia a “fraternal duty” and said he was prepared to do everything possible to assist.”If there’s anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help,” the North Korean leader said.The Beijing celebrations marked Kim’s first appearance at a major multilateral event since he came to power in 2011. This was the first time Kim, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared the same stage. According to AP, observers suggest that there is a possibility of bilateral talks between Kim and Xi or even a private trilateral meeting with both Xi and Putin, though none of the three governments have confirmed such plans.
