Russian President Putin received North Korean President Kim’s avowed support during the former’s visit to the Hermit Kingdom. This, even as a Russian President makes his first ever trip to North Korea in 24 years. Both nations seek to improve strategic cooperation. The leaders of both countries have signed a comprehensive strategic partnership pact. North Korea is suspected to be transferring weapons to Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russia is providing the North Koreans with technical expertise for its space program.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, just this week, accused Iran and North Korea of providing weapons to Russia. Blinken called China, Iran and North Korea ‘countries of concern’ for supporting Putin materially in Ukraine, going on to condemn the hermit kingdom for providing a significant amount of munitions to Russia while addressing a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Tensions have risen in the recent past on the Korean peninsula. This has been evident, especially after Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK/North Korea) failed attempt to put a second spy satellite in orbit. Experts felt, that the launch was a cover for an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). The rocket blew up soon after launch. Due to the palpable rising tensions, the United States Air Force (USAF) conducted its first-ever bombing exercise over the peninsula in over seven years.
After wrapping up his visit to North Korea, Putin will leave for Vietnam, his fifth visit to the nation. The Americans have rebuked the South East Asian nation for the visit. Hanoi has defended the visit by stating that the visit demonstrates that the country follows a balanced foreign policy and that it does not favour any major power. The two nations are expected to discuss technology, investments, education, arms and trade in rouble-dong to skirt Western sanctions.
