Chilling meeting between Kim Jong-un and Russia could spark Ukraine war crisis

17 September 2023 , 13:26

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Kim Jong-un could seek military technology in a trade to bolster Russian military reserves (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

A meeting between Kim Jong-un and Russian president Vladimir Putin could spark a Ukraine war crisis as the dictator provides updates on military armaments.

An expected increase in supply for Russian military personnel was aired by the North Korean leader, who held discussions with Russia ' defence minister Sergei Shoigu this week. The duo allegedly discussed "staregic and tactical coordination" between the countries' militaries, with Kim shown a flurry of nuclear-capable bombers and hypersonic missiles during his visit. His trip to Russia also featured a meeting with sitting Russian president Vladimir Putin, with the pair's meeting coming just weeks after a flurry of intensifying confrontations and military drill stand-offs with the United States and South Korea.

Russian defence leaders are now showing Kim their military technology (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Western powers now claim North Korea could offer Putin's army much-need munitions in exchange for technology which would advance the dictatorship's nuclear arsenal. Other Russian officials, including Primorye governor Oleg Kozhemyako, are set to meet with the dictator. Governor Kzhemyako revealed discussions on a summer camp attendance in either Russia or North Korea would be on the table, as well as cooperation between sports, tourism and culture plans.

Despot Kim was also shown various warplanes, strategic bombers and other vehicles used in Ukraine during a Saturday visit to Vladivostok. Shoigu and other senior military officials were present at the time, showing off the Tu-22 bombers which regularly launch cruise missiles at parts of Ukraine. The North Korean leader's visit to the military site coincided with an announcement from Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash on the use of Tu-160 bombers. Lt. Gen. Kobylash confimred the Tu-160 had received new cruise missiles with a range of 4,040 miles.

Kim met with president Putin in a recent visit to Russia (KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image)

Further appearances from Kim saw him informed of navy capabilities by Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov. The North Korean despot was informed of Russian warship capabilities, with missiles fired at Ukraine from the boats in Adm. Yemenov's arsenal. Kim and defence minister Shoigu were also said to have spoken on "practical issues arising in further strengthening the strategic and tactical coordination, cooperation and mutual exchange between the armed forces of the two countries".

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Defence minister Shoigu had previously been given a tour of North Korea's munitions and military capabilities on an earlier visit to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. Intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the US were displayed by the despot at the time, while Kim is now hinting at Russian delegates he wishes to receive technology which could help fuel his own wartime capabilities.

The trade-off appears to be some desperately needed reinforcements for Putin, whose dwindling military numbers are seeing a decline in reserves during his drawn-out invasion of Ukraine. North Korea is now hopeful of securing upgrades to their own military force, particularly nuclear information and improvements to their dated air force, which is still reliant on discarded Soviet Union planes from the 1980s. Experts believe the country has ambitious plans regarding its navy, with ballistic missile submarines and nuclear-propelled submarines an alleged want for Kim when speaking to Russian leaders.

Ewan Gleadow