North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has travelled for two days in his armoured train to meet President Putin at the Vostochny space centre in Russias far east. Pyongyang had also fired two ballistic missiles hours ahead of the meeting on Wednesday, while their leader was out of the country.What went down in Kim Jong un and Vladimir Putin meetThe Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader and the Kremlin leader are meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from Vladivostok. According to Putin, this specific location was chosen for the meeting because Moscow plans to help North Korea with its satellite programmes, media reports suggest.VIDEO | Russian President Vladimir Putin met North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un in Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia earlier today.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/xNZzgzXjsT— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 13, 2023“The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket technology, and they are trying to develop (their presence in) space,” Putin said, referring to North Korea by its official name.He further said that the two will engage in issues of different interest without much haste. There is time Putin said. Upon his arrival. Kim had also thanked Putin for inviting him for the visit despite his busy schedule.Kim is accompanied by top military officials including Korean Peoples Army Marshal Pak Jong Chon and Munitions Industry Department Director Jo Chun Ryong while the Russian side will see the presence of Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu alongside Putin, as per media inputs.Media reports also suggest that Kim Jong Un shows the “strategic importance” of ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, as this is his first post-pandemic foreign travel.Why is Russian Spaceport optimal location for this meetingKim and Putin are meeting at the Vostochny Space Centre in Russia sending a signal that Russia might help North Korea with its rocketry and satellite programmes, reports suggest. Moreover, Pyongyang recently failed twice in its bid to put a military spy satellite into orbit.According to An Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies has told media that this spaceport seems to be the optimal location because it responds to mutual interests, such as providing satellite technology requested by North Korea.The two countries are working for mutual benefit as Russia is eager for North Koreas stockpile of artillery shells likely for use in Ukraine, while Pyongyang is looking for help in upgrading its Soviet-era equipment, especially for its air force and navy, Chan-il further stated.“If North Koreas multiple rocket launchers and other artillery shells are provided to Russia in large quantities, it could have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine,” he added.Kim Jong Un travelled in his bulletproof train to meet Putin and made a small halt at the border station of Khasan on Tuesday morning where he was greeted by a Russian delegation as a brass band played.US stands against this cooperationThe United States of America has been vocal against the meeting of the two leaders of North Korea and Russia for the arms deal. The White House also warned North Korea last week and said that North Korea would “pay a price” if it supplied Russia with weaponry for the conflict in Ukraine.Through this bilateral meeting, North Korea expects to get food aid and technology as to help its banned nuclear and missile programmes. The US also considered this deal as Russia begging for assistance in this time of conflict with Ukraine and most of the West. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters “Having to travel across the length of his own country to meet with an international pariah to ask for assistance in a war that he expected to win in the opening month, I would characterize it as him begging for assistance.” Miller renewed US warnings that a Moscow weapons deal with Pyongyang could trigger further sanctions.
