▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (2nd from L) talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center in the Russian Far East on Sept. 13, 2023, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

NK leader-Russia visit

N. Korea's Kim heads home after 'successful' visit to Russia: state media

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has left the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok for home after "successfully" completing a visit to Russia that will open up a "new chapter" in their bilateral relations, Pyongyang's state media reported Monday.

During the six-day trip, Kim held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and toured a series of key military sites amid growing concern about possible military cooperation between the two countries.

"Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, left Vladivostok City on September 17 after successfully completing the schedule of his official goodwill visit to the Russian Federation," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English dispatch.

During his stay, Kim pledged to throw his full support behind Putin, saying the Russian army and people will triumph over "evil" forces, in an apparent endorsement of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Kim also went on a tour of Russia's Far East, visited key military facilities in the region and held talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok to discuss strengthening bilateral military cooperation and exchanges.

The makeup of his entourage and the selection of Russia's space facility as the venue for talks spawned speculation that North Korea may agree to supply Russia with ammunition and weaponry in exchange for food aid and a transfer of weapons technology from Moscow, such as those involving spy satellites and nuclear-powered submarines.

The KCNA said Kim's visit will be marked as "further consolidating the traditional ties of good neighbor and cooperation" between the two countries "based on the comradely friendship and militant unity and opening up a new chapter of the development of the bilateral relations."

This was the longest overseas trip by Kim since taking power. Including travel time, the North Korean leader spent a total of eight days on his visit to Russia.

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