A possible deal with North Korea to supply arms to Russia “is not welcome, but it is a sign that the embargo is effective and working,” US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said on Tuesday, CNN quoted him as saying.
“All of Russia’s efforts have been directed at rebuilding its empire, and that empire is now dependent on North Korea,” Emanuel said in an interview with CNN. “That tells you how much of a failure this war was.”
US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said on Monday that arms talks between Russia and North Korea were “actively moving forward”, adding that the US had information that “Kim Jong-un expects these talks to continue, including diplomatic engagement at the level of leaders in Russia”.
Watson did not specify when and where a potential meeting between Kim Jong Un and Putin in Russia could take place.
As the talks progress, the U.S. and its allies are concerned about the technology North Korea wants from Russia in exchange for weapons, two U.S. officials said.
According to officials, North Korea is seeking technology that could advance its nuclear-powered satellites and submarines, which could greatly expand North Korea’s capabilities in areas the regime has not fully developed.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly planning to visit Russia in September, the New York Times reported Monday, citing US and allied sources.
The purpose of the visit is to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the possible supply of weapons for the conflict in Ukraine.
Joint naval exercises
Kim is reportedly traveling from Pyongyang, probably by armored train, to Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast for a meeting with Putin.
Earlier, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Serhiy Shoigu stated that Russia is currently conducting discussions about possible joint exercises with North Korea.
Russia’s defense minister has suggested to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that their countries conduct naval exercises together with China, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported Monday, citing South Korea’s secret service.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea in July for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, celebrated in North Korea as “Victory Day,” when he met with Kim Jong.
Yonhap said Shoigu offered Kim three-way naval exercises during his visit, but gave no details.
North Korean weapons will not change anything
The former Ukrainian president suggested that the supply of weapons by North Korea to Russia will not significantly change the course of the war.
Speaking on reports that Vladimir Putin could host Kim Jong-un in Russia to discuss potential arms deals this month, Petro Poroshenko told Sky News it highlighted Putin’s “complete isolation” during the conflict.
According to him, Moscow’s “friends” are North Korea, Syria and Iran, whom he called “international pariahs”.
“North Korean ammunition will definitely not help Russia even stop a counteroffensive operation [ucraineană]Poroshenko said.
At the same time, he noted that if North Korea supplies weapons, Kyiv will demand more weapons from its Western partners and the creation of tougher sanctions against countries that provide armed assistance to Russia.
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Source: Hot News
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