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US officials worried about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea

2023-09-14 19:23:56, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined today (Thursday) to give details about the military agreements, but called the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "timely, useful and constructive". The Kremlin also confirmed that President Putin has accepted an invitation to visit North Korea, where Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will go in advance in October. As Voice of America correspondent Cindy Saine reports, the meeting took place despite warnings from the United States and South Korea against a possible arms transfer.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was given a royal welcome, including a personal presentation by President Vladimir Putin of Russia's most advanced rocket launch platform. The two leaders discussed the possibility of sending a North Korean astronaut into space, and Mr. Kim asked detailed questions about the rockets.

After the meeting, President Putin told Russian television that there are possibilities for military cooperation with North Korea, despite international sanctions.

For his part, Mr Kim said he would make ties with Russia his "number one priority", and made it clear he supported Russia's attack on Ukraine, saying: "We have always expressed full and unconditional support for all the measures taken by the Russian government and President Putin".

While they toasted their military cooperation, the talks caused concern in Washington. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby spoke on the matter.

"No country on the planet, no one, should help Mr. Putin kill innocent Ukrainians. And if they do decide on some sort of arms deal, we'll certainly deal with that in the right way," Mr Kirby said.

The meeting also caused concern at the State Department, spokesman Matthew Miller said.

"I would say that it is disturbing when you see the Russians talking about cooperation with North Korea, about programs that would violate the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, for which Russia itself has voted," said Mr. Miller.

According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the national security advisers of South Korea, the United States and Japan said during a telephone conversation that the arms trade between Russia and North Korea will be accompanied by consequences.

An expert told VOA that North Korea and Russia appear to have reached a deal that is beneficial to them, but worrying for world order and regional stability.

"I think it is very significant that they met at the Space Center. And it's indicative that this is the kind of technology North Korea wants. "Given that the launches of two of its reconnaissance satellites failed, North Korea needs such assistance," says Mark Fitzpatrick, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Mr. Fitzpatrick told VOA that there is no doubt that North Korea will supply artillery and anti-tank shells, which will certainly help Russia in Ukraine, because it has exhausted its arsenal.

The Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, said on Wednesday that cooperation in any form with North Korea appears to respect the sanctions imposed by the Security Council./ VOA