Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to deepen trade and security ties with North Korea and support it against the United States, reports "Reuters". He made his statement on the way to the isolated nuclear-armed country, which he will visit for the first time in 24 years, the News quoted. bg
The US and its Asian allies are trying to figure out how far Russia will go in support of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whose country is the only one to have conducted nuclear weapons tests in the 21st century.
In a signal that Russia, a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, is reassessing its overall approach to North Korea, Putin praised Pyongyang for resisting US economic pressure, blackmail and threats. >
In an article published by North Korea's state media, Putin praised "comrade" Kim and promised to jointly oppose "illegitimate unilateral restrictions", develop trade and strengthen security in Eurasia.
"Washington, refusing to fulfill the previously reached agreements, constantly sets new, increasingly strict and clearly unacceptable demands," Putin said in the article printed on the front page of the North Korean "Rodong Sinmun" - the main media organ of the ruling Workers' Party in the DPRK.
"Russia has always supported and will continue to support the DPRK and the heroic Korean people in their opposition to the treacherous, dangerous and aggressive enemy, assured the Russian leader.
Putin recalled that the Soviet Union was the first to recognize the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), founded by Kim's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, less than two years before the Korean War in 1950.
North Korean state media also published articles praising Russia and supporting its military operation in Ukraine, which it calls a "holy war of all Russian citizens".
Putin's state visit comes amid US accusations that North Korea has delivered "dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of ammunition to Russia" for the front in Ukraine. South Korea, a staunch US ally, has also expressed similar concerns.
Yesterday, the White House expressed concern about deepening relations between Russia and North Korea. The US State Department said it "certainly" Putin will be looking for weapons to support his war in Ukraine.
Moscow and Pyongyang have denied any arms transfer, but have promised to strengthen military ties, possibly through joint exercises.
Russia is expected to overtake all of NATO in munitions production this year, so Putin's visit is likely intended to highlight to Washington how disruptive Moscow can be in relation to multiple global crises.
In March, Russia vetoed the annual renewal of the panel of experts that monitors the implementation of longstanding UN sanctions against North Korea imposed over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.