hankyoreh

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin stand for a photo marking their summit in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 25, 2019. (Yonhap)

On Monday, North Korea and Russia officially announced that their respective leaders, Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin, will be holding a summit in Russia. The meeting is likely to take place on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Kim is visiting Russia for the first time in four years and five months, his last trip coming in April 2019.

Amid quickly closening ties among South Korea, the US and Japan, whether the leaders of North Korea and Russia will reach an agreement regarding not only economic support but also military cooperation including an arms deal is drawing interest globally.

Around 8 pm on Monday, North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim will be visiting Russia “soon” upon Putin’s invitation, adding that the two leaders “will meet and have a talk.”

Around the same time, Russia’s Kremlin stated during a press briefing that Kim will “pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in the coming days” according to TASS news agency.

Neither side shared Kim’s itinerary, such as the time of his departure and arrival, or the time and location of the summit.

Regarding this, a South Korean government official told the Hankyoreh that the North Korean leader had “departed Pyongyang on his private train Sunday afternoon and is currently headed towards North Korea’s northeast border,” and that he “seems to be moving in the direction of Vladivostok.”

The summit between Kim and Putin is expected to occur around Wednesday. According to the Russian news outlet RTVI, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the two leaders are not planning to meet during the Eastern Economic Forum. As such, it is likely that the two will meet on Wednesday, the final day of the forum, or afterward.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Kyodo News reported that the summit may occur on Tuesday night after Kim arrives in Russia.

The New York Times first reported the possibility of a North Korea-Russia summit on Sept. 4, predicting that Moscow would ask Pyongyang to supply weapons such as artillery shells for its war effort in Ukraine, while Pyongyang would ask for technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines in return. Other items expected to be on the summit’s agenda include joint military exercises among North Korea, China and Russia, as well as food and energy supply issues.

By Jang Ye-ji, staff reporter; Bae Ji-hyun, staff reporter; Shin Gi-sub, senior staff writer

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]