Russian President Vladimir Putin lands in Pyongyang, commences his first visit to North Korea in 24 years
Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin
President Vladimir Putin reachedNorth Korea on Wednesday(Jun 19), afterstopping overatRussia's far eastern region of Sakhafor a few hours, making the first trip to the country by a Russian leader in 24 years.
Ahead of his rare visit to Pyongyang, Putin hailed North Korea for “firmly supporting” Moscow’s war in Ukraine and also promised to build trade and security systems which are not controlled by the West.
Putin thanks North Korea for support
In a letter published by North Korean state media, the Russian president pledged his unwavering support for North Korea.
Putinlanded on Wednesdaymorning for his two-day visit to the isolated nation in 24 years amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine as well as the confrontation between North and South Korean troops on their shared border.
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The Russian president also highlighted that the two nations have developed good relations and partnerships over the past seven decades based on equality, mutual respect and trust.
He also thanked North Korea for supporting what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine despite “U.S. pressure, blackmail and military threats”.
“We highly appreciate that the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is firmly supporting the special military operations of Russia being conducted in Ukraine,” Putin wrote in the article, referring to North Korea by its official name.
He added that Russia and the North are “now actively developing the many-sided partnership”.
Putin vows trade, security
Ahead of Putin’s visit, Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said Moscow and Pyongyang may sign a partnership agreement which would include security issues.
In his letter, Putin said Russia and North Korea will develop trade and payment systems “that are not controlled by the West”.
The two countries, the Russian president wrote, will also jointly oppose sanctions which he described as “unilateral and illegal restrictive measures” against their nations.
Russia has been grappling with thousands of sanctions imposed against it by the West after it invaded Ukraine in late February 2022.
Meanwhile, North Korea, for years now, has been under heavy United Nations Security Council (UNSC) economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
Also Read |Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years: What does it signify and why is West worried?
While Moscow and Pyongyang have been allies since North Korea’s founding after World War II, with Putin being isolated from the international stage due to the Ukraine war, the two nations have become even closer.
The United States and its allies in the West have repeatedly accused North Korea of sending Russia some much-needed weapons, including ballistic missiles to support Moscow amid the war. However, both nations have denied arms transfers.
‘Welcome president Putin!’
Pyongyang was decked up forthe Russian president's visit with huge banners and smiling photographs of himreading “we ardently welcome President Putin!” hanging from lamp-posts across the North Korean capital alongside Russian flags, reported AFP.
The delegation for the visit includes Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the ministers for natural resources, health, and transport, the heads of the Russian space agency and its railways.
Putin’s point man for energy and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak will also accompany the Russian president, reported Reuters.
The visit also comes at a critical time, with tensions on the Korean Peninsula at their highest point in years with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s weapons tests and the US and South Korea holding military drills in response.
Not to mention the recent balloon war between North and South Korea, which led Seoul to once againbroadcast anti-North Korean propaganda with its loudspeakers in retaliation.
(With inputs from agencies)