A possible new deal between North Korea and Russia

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, is reportedly planning to travel to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the possibility of North Korea providing weapons to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. The exact location of the talks is unclear, but it is suggested that Kim may travel by armoured train. The meeting follows recent information that arms negotiations between the two countries have been advancing, with Russia’s Defence Minister trying to convince North Korea to sell artillery ammunition. The US has expressed concerns about such arms negotiations and warns of potential sanctions if North Korea supplies weapons to Russia.

The two leaders previously met in 2019, and there are concerns in Washington and Seoul about the implications of an arms deal between North Korea and Russia, including increased military cooperation in Asia. There is also the fear that Russia could provide advanced weapons technology or knowledge to North Korea, potentially aiding its nuclear weapons program. However, the deal could also be driven by Russia’s need for weapons and North Korea’s need for financial resources and food.