North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s trip to Russia and meeting with President Vladimir Putin will be a major visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said as the North Korean dictator left for Russia on a special train, Reuters reported.

Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in 2019Photo: KCNA VIA KNS / AFP / Profimedia
  • What to expect from the meeting between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, which will take place in Russia?

Kim traveled to Russia aboard a special train, a South Korean source said, as Pyongyang and Moscow confirmed a summit with President Vladimir Putin on Monday amid deepening Russian isolation over his actions in Ukraine.

The North Korean leader left on board his train on Sunday evening, a senior South Korean government official told Reuters.

A special train will take Kim to North Korea’s northeastern border with Russia, and the summit could take place as early as Tuesday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing intelligence concerns, and added that details could change depending on the situation. there.

Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in the coming days at Putin’s invitation, the Kremlin said, while North Korea’s state news agency KCNA said they would “meet and discuss” without elaborating.

US officials said they would discuss possible arms deals to help Russia in its war in Ukraine and provide North Korea with an economic and political bailout.

Washington and its allies have expressed concern over recent signs of closer military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, as well as nuclear weapons. This will be Kim’s second meeting with Putin after the two met in 2019.

“There will be negotiations between the two delegations. And after that, if necessary, the leaders will continue communication in the tete-a-tete format,” said Peskov.

Kremlin journalist Pavlo Zarubin published a video of his statement on social networks.

According to Peskov, the main topic of the negotiations will be bilateral relations.

“We will continue to strengthen our friendship,” Peskov said.

“It will be a large-scale visit. An official lunch is also planned,” Peskov said, according to the Guardian.