Putin offers assistance to North's satellite program

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their summit in over four years at Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia's leading spaceport in a meeting focused on strengthening military and economic cooperation.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, center left, examine a rocket assembly hangar during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far eastern Amur region Wednesday, accompanied by Russian Federal Space Corporation Roscosmos CEO Yuri Borisov on the left. [AP/YONHAP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his intentions to help develop North Korea's satellite program in his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a spaceport in Russia's Far East Wednesday.

Kim and Putin held their first summit in over four years at Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia's leading spaceport, in a meeting focused on strengthening military and economic cooperation, posing a possible challenge to the United Nations sanctions regime.

Russia is "waging a sacred fight against the West," Kim told Putin at the beginning of their summit talks, in apparent reference to the war on Ukraine.

He added that North Korea will work together with Russia to "fight against imperialism" and is supportive of "all decisions" made by Putin, reported Russian state media.

Kim stressed that Pyongyang's relations with Moscow are its "top priority," amid geopolitical tensions stemming from the war in Ukraine and rising tensions in Northeast Asia.

Putin said he hopes to discuss economic cooperation, security situations on the Korean Peninsula and humanitarian issues.

The two leaders held one-on-one talks followed by an expanded meeting and an official dinner. The talks focused on strengthening strategic cooperation between the two neighbors spanned over three hours, but the two leaders didn't hold a joint press conference or sign any joint statements.

The two leaders met at Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Oblast in Russia's Far East, contrary to expectations that they would hold their bilateral meeting in Vladivostok, where Putin visited earlier this week to attend the Eastern Economic Forum, an annual international conference.

Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia's most advanced space center, is located around 2,300 kilometers from Pyongyang and 1,000 kilometers north of Vladivostok.

The location bears significance as it indicates North Korea may seek cooperation from Russia on its space program, following its second failure to launch a spy satellite last month. It also admitted to a botched launch attempt in May.

Putin told media that leader Kim shows great interest in rocket technology, noting that North Korea is also developing their "excellent" space program.

He said that the two sides with discuss "all issues without any rush" when asked if they plan to discuss military and technological cooperation.

During their meeting, two leaders discussed tactical and strategic cooperation and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Europe, reported Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency.

Kim's visit could provide an opportunity to find a way around crippling UN sanctions on Pyongyang, with the Kremlin signaling that it is open to discussing Security Council issues with North Korea before the summit.

If an arms deal was made, North Korea could provide potentially ammunition to Russia, which has depleted its ammunition supply in its war on Ukraine.

Pyongyang, in turn, could have asked for Russian technologies related to nuclear-powered submarines, missiles and satellites, which would be in violation of UN sanctions. Russia could also provide food and energy assistance much needed by the North.

This marks Kim's first overseas trip since his country reopened its borders following the Covid-19 pandemic, and his first return to Russia since a visit to Vladivostok in April 2019 for a summit with Putin.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, and hold their first bilateral summit in four years at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far eastern Amur region on Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

Earlier that day, Kim arrived at a station in Vostochny on his armored train after departing from Pyongyang on Sunday afternoon.

He was given a red-carpet welcome, greeted by honor guards and Russian officials.

The notoriously tardy Putin notably arrived at the Cosmodrome 30 minutes ahead of Kim. The two leaders exchanged a hearty 40-second handshake.

In their initial greetings, Kim was quoted as thanking Putin's for his invitation to his country despite his "tight schedule," according to RIA Novosti.

The leaders said that the meeting coincided with important events, including the 75th anniversary of North Korea's founding day and the 70th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice agreement. It also marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between North Korea and Russia, Putin said.

Kim and Putin toured the Soyuz-2 space rocket launch facility, reported Russian state media, and the North Korean leader reportedly asked many "detailed questions" on the cosmodrome, where Russia's space rockets are launched.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesperson, said prior to the talks that the two leaders were expected to discuss bilateral cooperation, including trade, economic and cultural exchanges, and perhaps exchange views on regional and global affairs.

The Kremlin said that the two sides will cooperate in "sensitive areas that cannot be made public" when asked by reporters whether an arms deal will be discussed ahead of the summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and their entourage tour the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far eastern Amur region on Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

Just ahead of the Kim-Putin summit, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea Wednesday.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launches from the Sunan area between 11:43 a.m. and 11:53 a.m.

It is unusual for Pyongyang to launch missiles while its leader is out of the country.

North Korean leader Kim said his trip to Russia is a "clear manifestation" of prioritizing the "strategic importance" of their bilateral ties, according to its state media earlier Wednesday.

The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KNCA) said that Kim arrived on his armored train at a station in Khasan, a Russian border city in Primorsky Krai, or the Russian Far East, at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Russian officials from Moscow and the local government greeted him in a welcome ceremony with an honor guard.

The KCNA said that the purpose of the visit was to "elevate and develop the friendly and cooperative relationship" between North Korea and Russia to a "higher level."

Kim told Russian officials that his visit marks his first overseas trip since the global "public health crisis," KCNA said, referring to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said that his visit is a manifestation of his government and the ruling Workers' Party's stance on the "strategic importance" of the North Korea-Russia bilateral relationship.

Russian media video footage showed Kim receiving a red-carpet welcome at Khasan Station. He was received by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov and local officials, including Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Primorsky Krai.

Kim's train later departed for an unnamed destination.

Russian media outlet RBK reported that Kim will also meet with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Saturday.

The U.S. State Department said it will "not hesitate" to take action should North Korea agree to provide weapons to Russia.

Any arms transfer from North Korea to Russia "would violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesperson, told a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday. "It would be a sign of the desperate state in which the Russian government finds itself a year and a half into this war that it has been prosecuting unsuccessfully against Ukraine."

He added that the United States "will not hesitate to take action to hold those accountable if necessary."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a spaceport in the far eastern Amur region in Russia, on Wednesday, their first reunion in over four years. [AP/YONHAP]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]