North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss providing Moscow with weapons to help fight in Ukraine, the United States said on Monday.
The statement came after the White House warned last week that Russia is in secret talks with North Korea to obtain various weapons.
“As we have previously warned, arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are progressing,” said Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the US National Security Council.
“We have information that Kim Jong Un hopes that the talks will continue, and that they will be part of a high-level diplomatic meeting in Russia.”
Kim — who does not often travel abroad — is likely to go to the Pacific coastal city of Vladivostok in Russia, not far from North Korea, to meet with Putin at the end of this month, according to the New York Times.
The newspaper said that it is even possible that Kim will travel to Moscow, but it is not certain.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week that, despite its denials, North Korea provided Russia with missiles in 2022, which were used by the Wagner group.
On the other hand, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to North Korea last month in search of additional weapons for the war, Watson said.
“We call on North Korea to end its arms talks with Russia and abide by Pyongyang’s public commitment not to provide arms to Russia,” said Watson.
The United States, Britain, South Korea and Japan said in a joint UN statement last week that any cooperation between North Korea and Russia would violate a Security Council resolution banning an arms deal with Pyongyang. Moscow even supported it.
AFP
IDILNEWS.