Kim Jong Un Kim Jong Un meets Russian Defence Minister; explore close military ties
Pyongyang/UNI/IBNS: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Saturday during his visit to the country's Far East city of Vladivostok, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday.
Kim, accompanied by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, conducted an inspection of Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles, and warships on Saturday.
Kim and Shoigu discussed military and political situations and agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation between their armed forces and national defense and security.
The intensifying military relations between the two neighbouring countries concern the United States and its allies, especially in Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's pursuit of missile and nuclear technologies.
South Korea and the U.S. said on Friday that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia would violate U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang and that the allies would ensure there was a price to pay, Reuters reports.
Putin and Kim held talks at Russia's Vostochny cosmodrome, located 8,000 kilometers from Moscow.
During their meeting, Putin accepted an invitation to visit North Korea and proposed sending a North Korean into space, media reports said.
Kim left Russia on Sunday after his six-day visit to Russia.
