(Update 12:35 pm): Kim Jong Un has finally reached Russia to meet Vladimir Putin at Vladivostok where the two leaders might strike an arms deal. Kim Jong Uns heavily-armoured private train has arrived in Russia for the summit amid the US warning. The train of the North Korean leader was travelling north through Primorsky Krai in the Far East region of the country as per media reports. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives in Russia Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/vAjx41hFeM#NorthKorea #Russia #KimJongUn #VladimirPutin pic.twitter.com/hwvAFvTYF9— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) September 12, 2023 Kim Jong Un crosses Russia border, to meet Putin after four years(Update 8:20 am): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reached Russian city of Khasan where a welcome ceremony was held, as per media reports. From here, he will travel to Vladivostok which is 150 kilometers (95 miles), where Kim is likely to meet Putin for the first time in more than four years.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un departs for Russia to meet PutinNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un started his journey to Russia by armoured train on Sunday to meet President Vladimir Putin. The meeting between the two leaders was announced by Pyongyang and Moscow on Monday and will take place as early as Tuesday local time.Kim Jong Un was accompanied by unspecified members of the countrys ruling party, government, and military while traveling in his personal train from the capital, Pyongyang, on Sunday afternoon.North Korean state media confirms leader Kim Jong Un departed for Russia, reports AP— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 11, 2023What is there in store for North Korea-Russia meetThe meeting is scheduled to take place in Vladivostok, an eastern Russian city. However, neither Russia nor North Korea has announced the summit schedule yet. Moreover, the agenda for the meeting has not been shared yet but it is likely to focus on bilateral relations between Russia and North Korea, as well as the situation in Ukraine.The announcement of the North Korean leaders visit to Russia ends days of speculation after US and other officials said recently that Kim, who rarely leaves North Korea, was likely to head to Vladivostok for arms talks with Putin. This will be Kims first visit outside North Korea since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.North Korea has remained in support of Russias attack on Ukraine and also supplied rockets and missiles to the country, Washington says.US warns Pyongyang on supply of weaponsThe White House has warned North Korea about providing weapons to Russia and said that Pyongyang would “pay a price” if it supplies Moscow with weaponry for its war in Ukraine.However, both Russia and North Korea have denied that they are discussing an arms deal. The Kremlin stated that the meeting would focus on “bilateral cooperation in various fields.”The White also hinted at Russia to be desperate in seeking a meeting with Kim.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.Kim Jung Uns train is rumoured to include at least 20 bulletproof cars, making it heavier than average trains and unable to go beyond 59 km/h (37mph). Moreover, the Pyongyang leaders last trip abroad was also to Vladivostok in 2019 for a summit with Vladimir Putin after the collapse of North Koreas nuclear disarmament talks with former US President Donald Trump.
