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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to travel to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss arms sales to Moscow, a senior White House official said on Monday.
The meeting between Kim and Putin will significantly strengthen military ties between Russia and North Korea as occupying forces in Moscow try to contain a counteroffensive in southern and eastern Ukraine.
At a critical time in the Ukraine conflict, Washington is increasingly concerned about the possibility of an increase in the arms trade between Moscow and Pyongyang.
“Last month, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to North Korea to try to persuade Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia,” said White House National Security Council spokesman Adrian Watson. “We have sources that Kim Jong Un wants these discussions Can go ahead, and that includes leadership-level diplomatic engagement with Russia. “
Watson added: “We urge North Korea to cease arms negotiations with Russia and abide by Pyongyang’s public commitment not to supply or sell arms to Russia.”
News of Kim’s planned visit to Russia to discuss the weapons comes as Ukrainian forces are beginning to make some progress in a counteroffensive to drive out Russian troops, with both sides rapidly depleting ammunition supplies amid heavy shelling.
Last week, John Kirby, director of strategic communications at the National Security Council, told reporters that Kim and Putin had exchanged letters promising to deepen cooperation. Kirby also outlined the terms of a “potential deal” between the two.
“Russia would receive large quantities and types of munitions from North Korea that the Russian military would use in Ukraine,” Kirby said. “These potential deals could also include the supply of raw materials that would contribute to Russia’s defense industrial base.”
The New York Times first reported that U.S. and allied officials believed Kim was expected to visit Russia to meet with Putin. The North Korean leader plans to travel by armored train to Russia’s east coast for a meeting, possibly in the city of Vladivostok.
A new arms deal between Kim Jong Un and Putin would give North Korea a bigger role than ever in the Ukraine conflict and underscore the difficulty Russia faces in continuing to secure the weapons it needs through domestic production and limited allies.
If the visit does take place, it could lead to new sanctions from Washington, although both Moscow and Pyongyang already operate under a strict US sanctions regime.
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