Putin to visit Kim Jong-Un as North Korea plots new ‘international order’ with Russia | World | News
North Korea announced on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his readiness to visit the country at an unspecified “early date”. The revelation comes as both nations find common ground in the face of escalating confrontations with the United States.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry emphasised Putin’s willingness to visit following meetings between North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, Putin, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow last week.
The official statement, published by state media, disclosed that the two countries have agreed to enhance strategic and tactical cooperation with Russia, aiming to establish a “new multi-polarised international order”.
This is seen as their joint effort to build a united front against Washington.
Kim Jong-un, one of the few world leaders openly supporting Putin’s actions in Ukraine, has actively sought to strengthen ties with Russia to break out of diplomatic isolation amid a deepening nuclear standoff with Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.
In a separate statement on Sunday, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry condemned the UN Security Council for convening an emergency meeting over the country’s latest ballistic test. State media described it as a new intermediate-range solid-fuel missile with a hypersonic warhead. The ministry claimed that the January 14 test was part of routine activities to improve defence capabilities and posed no threat to neighbouring countries.
South Korea, on Thursday, called on the Security Council to address North Korea’s escalating missile tests and threats. However, Russia and China, both permanent members of the council, have thwarted U.S.-led efforts to impose increased sanctions on North Korea, revealing a deepened divide over Russia‘s war on Ukraine.
The growing alignment between Pyongyang and Moscow has sparked international concerns about potential arms cooperation, with speculations that North Korea may be providing munitions to Russia to support its conflict in Ukraine.
In return, North Korea could receive economic aid and military assistance to bolster Kim’s forces. Both North Korea and Russia have denied accusations by Washington and Seoul regarding arms transfers.
In a statement published by state media, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry reiterated the strong will of Choe and Russian officials to “further strengthen strategic and tactical cooperation in defending the core interests of the two countries and establishing a new multi-polarised international order.”
The ministry disclosed that Russia expressed “deep thanks” for North Korea’s “full support” in its war on Ukraine and emphasised serious concerns over the United States’ expanding military cooperation in the region, blaming it for escalating tensions and threatening North Korea’s sovereignty and security interests.