A reunion of despots. On 13 September, North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny spaceport in Russia’s far east Amur Oblast. The highly symbolic visit was an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss a possible exchange of goodwill. While North Korea covets its neighbor’s military technologies and humanitarian aid, the latter desperately needs ammunition to fight its war with Ukraine.
The North Korean leader – crossing the border for the first time in more than four years – enjoys good relations with the Kremlin’s strongman. He has shown his support on numerous occasions, whether by offering him troops or access to his arsenal.
Receive the best of European journalism straight to your inbox every Thursday
Was this article useful? If so we are delighted! It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans. Discover our membership offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!
