Drones and a bulletproof vest: The gifts North Korea’s Kim Jong Un received in Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is on his way home from Russia. An unusual six-day visit by North Korea’s leader, who seldom leaves the nation, underlines Pyongyang’s pressing desire to strengthen ties with President Vladimir Putin and has fuelled Western suspicions that Pyongyang could give Moscow with weapons for its war on Ukraine. Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia’s far eastern region, which began last Tuesday, has been heavily focused on military cooperation, including a symbolic exchange of rifles with Putin and an inspection of state-of-the-art Russian weapons. Kim was also given explosive drones and protective clothes as a gift at the end of his visit. Let’s take a closer look. Drones and bulletproof vest as gift North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone and a bulletproof vest as gifts from a regional governor on his visit to Russia, official TASS news agency said Sunday. Russia’s TASS news agency said that the “leader of the DPRK received five kamikaze drones and a ‘Geran-25’ reconnaissance drone with vertical takeoff.”

The governor of the Primorye region, which borders China and North Korea, also “offered Kim Jong Un a set of bulletproof protection” and “special clothing not detectable by thermal cameras,” according to TASS. Kim concluded his tour to the Russian Far East on Sunday by boarding an armoured train in the city of Artyom, located north of the port of Vladivostok, and beginning the long journey home, according to Russian state media. Kim was observed leaving with the national anthems of both North Korea and Russia. Vodka toasts During his visit to Russia, Kim conducted inspections of Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles, and warships on Saturday. On Saturday, Kim met Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok, where he viewed state-of-the-art weapons including a hypersonic missile system. The two were seen smiling as they examine some of Russia’s nuclear bombers at an airfield before boarding a warship. Later, the North Korean official agency KCNA published photos of Kim donning a traditional Russian fur hat and lifting a glass of vodka with Shoigu and their delegations. [caption id=“attachment_13135542” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, left, shares a moment with Governor of the Russian far eastern region of Primorsky Krai Oleg Kozhemyako, right, during a banquet in Vladivostok, Russian Far East Sunday. AP[/caption] According to North Korean official media, Kim discussed increasing “strategic and tactical coordination” between the military of both the countries with Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu. Russian natural resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, who accompanied the North Korean leader on his final day, said “a lot” was discussed. “Kim Jong Un was very interested in and paid attention to minute details,” Alexander Kozlov said, as per a NDTV report. He made no mention of any military agreements, but claimed the two sides talked about expanding grain supplies and resuming regular air travel. According to him, the two countries also discussed resurrecting dormant infrastructure projects. Government officials from both nations have also agreed to meet in Pyongyang in November, according to Kozlov. Friendship, solidarity and cooperation Kim spent six days in Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny spaceport. His first official tour overseas since the coronavirus pandemic has fuelled Western suspicions that Moscow and Pyongyang may violate sanctions and conclude an arms deal. [caption id=“attachment_13135552” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, centre, walks past honour guard soldiers prior to leaving Artyom, near Vladivostok, Russian Far East. AP[/caption] Kim’s extended tour of Russia’s far eastern region, which began on Tuesday, has focused extensively on military matters, as evidenced by his own officer-dominated entourage, a symbolic exchange of rifles with President Vladimir Putin and a tour of a fighter jet factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Moscow is believed to be interested in buying North Korean ammunition to continue fighting in Ukraine, while Pyongyang wants Russia’s help to develop its internationally condemned missile programme. The Kremlin has said no agreement has or will be signed. Kim also met with North Korean students studying in Vladivostok on Sunday. North Korean news agency KCNA has described the atmosphere during Kim’s visit as “fervent and warm” and said a “new era of friendship, solidarity and cooperation” was opening between North Korea and Russia. The trip raises concerns The United States and its allies are concerned about North Korea’s growing military relations with Russia, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s advances in missile and nuclear development. [caption id=“attachment_13135562” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Admiral Shaposhnikov frigate of the Russian navy at the Russian Pacific fleet in Vladivostok, the Russian Far East. AP[/caption] Both South Korea and the United States stated on Friday that military collaboration between North Korea and Russia would violate UN sanctions against Pyongyang, and they promised to hold such activities accountable. According to a report in DW, South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol stated that the international community “will unite more tightly” to deal with Russia and North Korea’s growing military cooperation. Russia, on the other hand, has raised the prospect of military cooperation with North Korea. According to Russian media, Moscow is diligently looking into the potential of joint military drills with North Korea. Shoigu had already visited Pyongyang in July, when he accompanied Kim to a weapons exhibition. With inputs from agencies