Kim and Putin’s five-hour meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport garnered attention, with Putin noting Kim’s “great interest” in space technology. Kim expressed his support for Russia, and Putin described their discussions as “very substantive.”
Although no public announcements have been made regarding arms negotiations, the US government had earlier issued warnings about such talks progressing between North Korea and Russia.
Kim’s visit also included a visit to the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Yuri Gagarin Aviation Plant, where he expressed admiration for Russia’s aircraft manufacturing industry. He toured various facilities, including a fighter jet fuselage assembly shop and a wing production shop.
Kim inspected warplanes and visited a Pacific Fleet frigate, accompanied by the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy. KCNA, North Korean state media, reported discussions on military cooperation “between the armed forces of the two countries and in the fields of their national defense and security.”
