Report: Kim Jong Un to Meet Putin in Russia to Discuss Weapons Deal

According to recent reports, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin are planning to meet in Russia to discuss weapons. Putin would like to receive more weaponry for the war happening between Russia and Ukraine. In exchange, Kim seeks from Russia advanced technology for satellites, nuclear-powered submarines, and food aid for his starving people. It is possible this deal between the countries could be solely transactional.

According to BBC News, the U.S. has been focusing on keeping North Korean weapons away from the frontline in Ukraine. “The concern here in Seoul is over what North Korea would get in return for selling its arms to Russia. With Russia in a desperate situation, Mr. Kim will be able to extract a high price.”

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby shared that negotiations between Putin and Kim were “actively advancing” through exchanged letters between the two leaders. Kirby also shared how any arrangements between Russia and North Korea to assist Russia’s defense industrial base would “violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.” As reported by The Washington Post, “North Korea has said repeatedly that it would not sell arms to Russia.”

Adrienne Watson, another National Security Council spokesperson, shared how the Biden administration has re-emphasized this point to the country itself. “We urge [North Korea] to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia,” she said.

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin, who serves as Family Research Council’s executive vice president, commented to The Washington Stand, “This is an interesting turnabout in the relationship between Russia and Kim Jong Un. For many years, the North Koreans have been buying weapons systems from the Russians which have been enhancements to their arsenal, making North Korea more lethal and dangerous.”

“Now,” he added, “Russia is depending upon North Korea to provide them with material, weapons, and ammunition that are necessary for Russia to continue the war they started. This is, indeed, an issue that could be a reason for concern for Americans and its allies.”

The U.S. has approved over $113 billion in aid to Ukraine for their fight against Russian forces.

Chris Gacek, FRC’s senior fellow for Regulatory Affairs, commented to TWS, “We are in a weird place right now in our foreign policy.” He shared how, under the Biden administration, U.S. foreign policy is putting heavy emphasis on Ukraine, population control (i.e., abortion), and LGBT ideology. “We don’t seem to listen to people,” he said. “It’s not an accident a lot of the corners of the world seem to be gravitating away from us.”

It is rare for Kim to leave North Korea. Even when he has in the past, it’s been under intense safety precautions. BBC News commented, “It is unclear how private the two leaders intended their meeting [in Russia] to be, but it is possible the U.S. is hoping that by making it public, it can spook Mr. Kim and therefore thwart both the get-together and the potential arms deal.”