Military Space News
UAV NEWS
North Korea's leader wraps up Russia trip with drones gift
North Korea's leader wraps up Russia trip with drones gift
by AFP Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) Sept 17, 2023
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left Russia on Sunday after a rare six-day visit that appeared to solidify his country's ties with President Vladimir Putin, fanning Western fears that Pyongyang could provide Moscow with weapons for its assault on Ukraine.

Kim's tour of Russia's Far East, which began on Tuesday, has focused intensely on military cooperation, including a symbolic exchange of rifles with Putin and an inspection of state-of-the-art Russian weapons.

Kim's first official visit abroad since the coronavirus pandemic has sparked concerns that Moscow and Pyongyang will defy Western sanctions to secure an arms deal that could help the Kremlin continue its assault against Ukraine.

In comments broadcast on national television on Sunday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia will pursue cooperation with North Korea despite UN sanctions.

"We did not announce sanctions against North Korea, the Security Council did," he said.

"We will be developing equal, fair interaction with the DPRK," Lavrov said, using North Korea's official name.

Before departing from Vladivostok, the Pacific port city just over the border, Kim was presented with five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone and a bulletproof vest as gifts from the governor of the Primorye region, which borders China and North Korea.

He also visited the Far Eastern State University and appeared particularly pleased as he watched a walrus show at a local oceanarium.

- Vodka toasts -

Summing up the North Korean leader's visit, Russian Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, who accompanied him, said "a lot" had been discussed.

"Kim Jong Un was very interested in and paid attention to minute details," Kozlov said.

He made no mention of any agreements concerning military matters, but said the two sides discussed increasing supplies of grain and the resumption of regular air travel. The two countries also discussed reviving long-muted infrastructure projects, he said.

Government officials from the two countries also agreed to meet in Pyongyang in November, Kozlov added.

At the end of Kim's visit, official Russian video footage showed him waving goodbye from his heavily armoured train to a Russian delegation, before the Russian march "Farewell of Slavianka" was played as the train departed.

Russia and North Korea, historic allies, are both under rafts of global sanctions -- Moscow for its Ukraine offensive, Pyongyang for its nuclear weapon tests.

On Saturday, Kim met Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok, where he inspected state-of-the-art weapons including a hypersonic missile system.

The pair were seen smiling as they inspected some of Russia's nuclear bombers at an airfield before boarding a warship.

North Korean news agency KCNA later published pictures of a smiling Kim wearing a traditional Russian fur hat and raising a glass of vodka with Shoigu and their delegations.

- Greater cooperation -

On Wednesday, Putin and Kim held talks at Russia's new Vostochny cosmodrome, roughly 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) from Moscow.

After the meeting Putin talked up the prospect of greater cooperation with North Korea and the "possibilities" for military ties.

Moscow is believed to be interested in buying North Korean ammunition to continue fighting in Ukraine, while Pyongyang wants Russia's help to develop its internationally condemned missile programme.

The Kremlin has said no agreement has or will be signed.

North Korean news agency KCNA has described Kim's visit as "fervent and warm" and said a "new era of friendship, solidarity and cooperation" was opening between North Korea and Russia.

While meeting Kim, Putin accepted an invitation to visit North Korea and offered to send a North Korean to space, which would be a first.

Related Links
UAV News - Suppliers and Technology

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
UAV NEWS
Beat traffic by air: Israel flies drone taxi over Jerusalem
Jerusalem (AFP) Sept 13, 2023
An air taxi flew over Jerusalem on Wednesday as part of an Israeli experiment to develop a network of drones to offer transport services and ease traffic congestion. The aircraft, manufactured by a Chinese company, took off from the premises of Hadassah hospital in the city for a few minutes with its two passenger seats empty. The electric-powered autonomous aircraft with white cockpit and propellers is capable of flying for more than 35 kilometres (over 20 miles), according to organisers of the ... read more

UAV NEWS
Estonia, Latvia acquire 1bn-euro German air defence system

SpaceX launches new batch of Space Defense Agency missile tracking satellites

Ukraine receives new air defence systems from Berlin

Israel says US okays 'landmark' missile defence deal with Germany

UAV NEWS
North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles

Two killed by falling debris after missile strike on Kyiv: authorities

Australia agrees to buy long-range missiles from US

Kim Jong Un inspects cruise missile test as South Korea-U.S. military drills begin

UAV NEWS
North Korea's leader wraps up Russia trip with drones gift

Beat traffic by air: Israel flies drone taxi over Jerusalem

Kyiv fends off new wave of overnight drone attacks

Russia: Two Ukrainian drones shot down near Rostov-on-Don

UAV NEWS
Picogrid releases smallest AI-Enabled Command Station deployable in minutes

PLD SPACE signs a MOU with WISeKey to launch ultra-secure satellites with MIURA 5

Space Force awards Viasat contract for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellite Services

Solstar Space awarded Space Force contract for Deke Space Communicator

UAV NEWS
Ukraine's new defence minister asks for 'more heavy weapons'

General warns China seeking to 'exploit' US military knowledge

First Leopard 1 tanks arrive in Ukraine: Denmark

U.S. commits another $600M weapons package to Ukraine

UAV NEWS
Beijing sanctions two US defence companies over Taiwan arms sales

Japan warns against 'violations' of UN ban on arms deals with N. Korea

EU lawmakers approve joint arms purchase push

Poland to spend over 4% of GDP on defence in 2024

UAV NEWS
Cambodian PM Hun Manet meets China's Xi in Beijing

G77+China summit in Cuba calls for new global order

China hits out at German FM's 'dictator' Xi comment

Biden's national security advisor meets Chinese FM

UAV NEWS
World Nano Foundation highlights nanotech's role in space materials science



The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - SpaceDaily.com. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters