North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is planning to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month to discuss the possibility of providing Moscow with weapons to support its ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a U.S. official. The meeting is expected to take place in Russia, although the exact location has not been confirmed. This development was first reported by The New York Times.
The potential meeting between Kim and Putin comes after the White House announced that arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are “actively advancing.” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby revealed that Russia’s defense minister recently traveled to North Korea to convince Pyongyang to supply artillery ammunition. Following this visit, Putin and Kim exchanged letters pledging to increase their bilateral cooperation.
Intelligence obtained by the U.S. indicates that a group of Russian officials traveled to Pyongyang for further discussions about a possible arms deal between the two countries. The U.S. is urging North Korea to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by its public commitments to not provide or sell arms to Russia. The U.S. has also warned that it will take direct action, including imposing sanctions, against individuals and entities that facilitate the supply of weapons between Russia and North Korea.
If a weapons agreement is reached, it could involve significant quantities and multiple types of munitions from North Korea, which Russia would use in its ongoing war against Ukraine. However, such an agreement would violate numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions. The U.S. is determined to identify, expose, and counter any attempts by Russia or other states to acquire military equipment from North Korea to support the war in Ukraine.
This news comes almost a year after U.S. officials warned that the Russian Ministry of Defense was in the process of buying rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for the war in Ukraine. Russia has also used Iranian-made drones to target Ukrainian towns. Both Russia and China sent high-level delegations to North Korea in July, marking the first visits by top foreign officials since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The meeting between Kim and Putin could have significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The international community will be closely monitoring the outcome of their discussions and any potential weapons deal. The U.S. remains committed to supporting Ukraine and ensuring that international agreements and resolutions are upheld.
Original Story at www.cbsnews.com – 2023-09-04 20:29:00
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