the new (possible) strategic horizons with Kim

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit tomorrow and the day after (18 and 19 June) on an official visit to North Korea at the invitation of Kim Jong Un. This was made known by the Kremlin, which spoke of a “friendly state visit”. Subsequently, Putin will travel to Vietnam for a two-day visit dedicated to advancing the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between Moscow and Hanoi, confirming what was reported by the Vietnamese media. Tass recalls that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un traveled to Russia at Putin’s invitation in September 2023, making Russia the first country visited by the North Korean leader since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, during which North Korea’s borders have been closed. On that occasion, Kim Jong-un invited the Kremlin leader to travel to Pyongyang. Putin’s only visit to Pyongyang dates back to July 2000when he met Kim’s late father, Kim Jong-il, two months after taking office as president.

Ties between Moscow and Pyongyang

With Russia’s growing isolation from the West due to the war in Ukraine, analysts suggest that relations between Russia and North Korea could become increasingly closer.

One reason is the Kremlin’s need to look for strategic partners further east. Moscow has already declared in the past that there would be room for “very deep relations” with North Korea. “It is our neighbor, it is a friendly country with which we are developing bilateral relations,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, adding that these relations will continue to develop. In response, Kurt Campbell, the US deputy secretary of state, warned his South Korean counterpart that closer military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow would cause further instability in the region.

Preparations in North Korea

North Korea is preparing to welcome Putin: civilian planes have been removed from Pyongyang airport and there are signs of preparations for a possible parade in Kim Square, according to NK Pro, a Seoul-based website. Il-sung, as satellite images indicate. Experts believe that North Korea could use the Russian president’s visit to increase arms exports to Russia in exchange for food and energy importstaking military cooperation between the two states to a new level.