Kim Jong-un's 'pariah' tour continues at Russian fighter jet plant

Pyongyang has been seeking to bolster military ties with Moscow and doubling down on its weapons development amid growing security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrives at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center in Russia on Wednesday to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. [KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a fighter jet plant at a far eastern Russian city following his "pariah summit" with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the week, Russian news agencies reported Friday.

Kim arrived at a railway station in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the morning and was welcomed in accordance with protocols for a distinguished guest, the outlets reported.

The city has two aircraft plants, the Yuri Gagarin Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant, which is named after the first person in space, and the Yakovlev plant, which had been known as Irkut.

Russia's state-run news agency Tass said the Yuri Gagarin plant produces advanced warplanes, including Su-35 and Su-57 fighter jets. The Yakovlev plant builds short-haul passenger airliners.

Kim is expected to visit more cities in Russia after Wednesday's summit at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia spaceport, raised concerns over the expansion of military cooperation between the increasingly isolated countries, including the prospects of ammunition shipments from for the war in Ukraine.

Putin said earlier that Kim will also travel to Vladivostok to view Russia's Pacific Fleet.

Wednesday's summit marked Kim's first meeting with Putin since his visit to Vladivostok in April 2019.

Pyongyang has been seeking to bolster military ties with Moscow and doubling down on its weapons development amid growing security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense warned North Korea that its arms support to Russia would not only prolong the war in Ukraine but also be tantamount to "directly" joining the killing of innocent Ukrainians.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO, YONHAP [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]