Russia’s Vladimir Putin in North Korea: What do the two countries want from each other?

Russian president Vladimir Putin is in North Korea, his first trip to the hermit kingdom in 24 years. He was embraced by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his arrival at Pyongyang’s airport in the early hours of Wednesday (19 June) before the two headed to Kumsusan State Guest House, according to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). 

Putin’s visit aims to bolster relations between the two countries isolated by large parts of the world. Both leaders have their own interests and the Russian president’s two-day trip will likely make both countries happy and vex the West, especially the United States.

But what is it that Putin and Kim want from each other? Let’s take a closer look.

Putin in North Korea

Economic and military initiatives are expected to form the core of the Russian president’s visit to North Korea.

The leaders will hold one-on-one talks on Wednesday. Ahead of his visit, Putin said in a presidential order that Moscow wants to sign a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” with North Korea.

According to Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, a gala concert, state reception and honour guards are also on the cards, Reuters reported citing Russia’s Interfax news agency. A visit to an Orthodox church is also on the agenda.

The two leaders are expected to sign agreements and issue a statement to the media, as per the Reuters report.

State news agency KCNA described the meeting between Putin and Kim as a historic event that shows the “invincibility and durability” of Russia and North Korea’s friendship and unity, reported Associated Press (AP).

The North Korean outlet described the partnership between the two nations as an “engine for accelerating the building of a new multi-polar world”.

Putin had said in a letter published by North Korea’s state-run newspaper that Russia and North Korea will build trade and payment systems “that are not controlled by the West”.
The Russian leader said the two countries plan to enhance cooperation in tourism, culture and education.

He also promised to back North Korea against “US pressure, blackmail and military threats”.

Moscow and Pyongyang have grown closer since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Kim’s support for Russia in this war is likely to dominate the talks between the two leaders, noted BBC.

Before his visit, the Russian leader had thanked Pyongyang for showing “unwavering support” for the Ukraine war, saying the two countries were “ready to confront the ambition of the collective West.”

What do Russia and North Korea want?

It is a marriage of convenience between Russia and North Korea, analysts said to BBC.

While Russia wants North Korea’s ammunition to shore up its dwindling supply for the war in Ukraine, North Korea is eyeing military technology.

North Korea boasts a huge defence industry with large-scale production capabilities.

Putin and Kim last met in September 2023 when the North Korean leader took his armoured train to eastern Russia. The trip resulted in North Korea reportedly supplying munitions to Russia.

The US State Department said this week that Pyongyang delivered 11,000 containers of munitions to Russia in the past year.

In March, a US official alleged that Russia launched at least 10 North Korea-made missiles on Ukraine since last September.

Moscow and Pyongyang have denied reports of North Korean weapons transfers.

Kim is seeking Putin’s help to develop missiles and advance its nuclear and space projects. North Korea has been heavily sanctioned by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for years over its nuclear weapons and missile programmes.

Putin could agree to provide economic assistance and technology to North Korea in exchange for much-needed artillery rounds.

According to a Deutsche Welle (DW) article, the Russian leader may give the green light to supply the natural resources, including oil and gas, that North Korea desperately needs.

North Korea is already receiving food and other essentials from Russia. Putin’s trip could result in Kim agreeing to send more labourers to Russia to account for the shortage due to military conscription, as per the DW piece.

CNN reports citing experts that Kim is interested in gaining know-how of several Russian advanced weaponry, and technology related to uranium enrichment, reactor designs or nuclear propulsion for submarines.

However, observers say, it is unlikely that Russia would “directly help” Kim’s nuclear programme currently, the American broadcaster reported.

One trip, many messages

Moscow’s deepening ties with Pyongyang have ruffled feathers in the US and South Korea.

For both Kim and Putin, the visit is a way to convey to the world that they are not alone.

“Putin is highlighting that Russia has friends – and is propagating the idea that the war is not winnable for Ukraine because Russia will not run out of weapons,” John Erath, senior policy director for the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation non-profit in Washington, told CNN.

Putin will use its alliance with North Korea to show it still has friends and there are other countries opposed to a US-led world.

Yakov Zinberg, a Russian-born professor of international relations at Japan’s Kokushikan University, called Putin’s Pyongyang visit “threatening.”

“This is a calculated threat to the US-South Korean-Japanese security alliance in the region and is designed to send the message that not only is he strong on NATO in Europe, but that he is also being strong in the Far East as well,” he told DW.

Putin is telling the world he will do what he wants, including travel overseas despite UN sanctions and international arrest warrants against him.

Analysts say the relations between Russia and North Korea are on a level not seen since the Soviet Union era.

“While the sustainability of this relationship is yet to be seen, in the short term, Putin and Kim will reap the benefits of their solidarity in what they have framed as a war against the West,” Jenny Town, director of the Washington-based Stimson Center’s Korea Program and 38 North, told BBC.

With inputs from agencies