Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on a visit to North Korea on Wednesday morning after 24 years. Here dictator Kim Jong Un himself received him at the airport. Putin is accompanied by a delegation of 10 Russian ministers and officials. These include Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov.
A red carpet was laid at the airport to welcome Putin. Both the leaders also hugged each other. After this, Putin was officially welcomed at the City Square of the capital Pyongyang. The intersection was decorated with colorful balloons. Thousands of people gathered on the streets to see Putin’s convoy. They had the flags of Russia and North Korea in their hands.
Apart from this, big posters of Putin and Kim Jong were also put up on some buildings. The military band played the national anthem of both the countries to welcome Putin at the City Square. During this, the children gathered there also had colorful flowers in their hands. Kim Jong’s sister Kim Yo Jong was also present during the entire program.
North Korea’s 105-storey building lit up with colorful lights
According to British media BBC, apart from the grand parade to welcome Putin, the 105-storey Rugyong Hotel in Pyongyang was decorated with LED lights. ‘Welcome Putin’ and ‘Friendship’ were written on it. According to Russian news agency Interfax, a bilateral meeting was also held between the two leaders. During this, Putin thanked Kim Jong for supporting Russia in the Ukraine war.
Putin also announced a new fundamental document, which will form the basis of relations between the two countries. Putin said that the relations between the two countries had strengthened during Kim Jong’s visit to Russia last year. Now a new fundamental document has been created to take this partnership forward.
Arms deal suspect between two countries
There are speculations about Putin’s visit that Kim Jong can make a deal related to economic assistance and technology transfer to Russia in exchange for the necessary weapons. Actually, Russia needs more weapons to stay in the Ukraine war.
Military and economic cooperation between North Korea and Russia has increased rapidly since the Ukraine war started. The US and South Korea have accused North Korea of supplying ammunition, missiles and other military equipment to Russia.
In a Bloomberg report, South Korea’s Defense Ministry has claimed that Russia has sent 5 million artillery shells to North Korea. However, both Pyongyang and Moscow have flatly denied the allegations of arms transfer.
Putin visited Pyongyang in July 2000, just a few months after becoming president in March 2000. He met Kim’s father and North Korean ruler Kim Jong Il.