Russian President Vladimir Putin is on a state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and has held comprehensive talks with the country's leadership on economic and security cooperation, along with global issues.
Kim Jong-un personally greeted Putin upon his arrival at Pyongyang airport early on Wednesday, and the two leaders held face-to-face talks on “the most important, the most sensitive issues” after an official welcoming ceremony.
Russia and North Korea signed a number of bilateral documents, including a landmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.
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19 June 2024
Putin has left the DPRK and will next head to Vietnam.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow “provides for maintaining peace and stability in the region.” It also promotes “the common interests of our two countries, Korea and Russia, and [places] a more reliable foundation for the security situation for the two nations,” he stressed.
The signing of “the strongest and most comprehensive interstate agreement in the history of Russian-Korean friendship” earlier on Wednesday is a “great event,” Kim said during a gala reception in honor of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During a gala reception in his honor, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a toast “to the further development of friendship and cooperation between Russia and North Korea, the well-being and prosperity of our peoples, and to the health of the head of state affairs, Kim Jong-un, and all of those present here today.”
A video from Pyongyang has captured thousands of residents of the North Korean capital taking to the streets to greet Russian President Vladimir Putin’s motorcade.
The Russian authorities understand that the US and its allies “will try to hamper and create additional difficulties” in Moscow’s ties with North Korea, but no actions by the West will affect the choice to develop “special” relations with Pyongyang, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has insisted.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has said that following his trip to Pyongyang, he expects North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to make a return visit to Moscow. Putin also thanked the residents of Pyongyang for the warm welcome he received in the North Korean capital.
The newly signed Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership underlines the desire of Russia and North Korea to boost relations in all areas, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.
“This is a framework document, a conceptual one, that sets the tone for bilateral relations, and is probably a very concentrated demonstration of the political will to develop all vectors of bilateral ties,” Peskov told Izvestia newspaper.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have laid flowers at a monument to Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Korea from Japan during World War II.
Moscow “categorically rejects” attempts by some countries to blame the deterioration of the international security situation on Pyongyang, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
“North Korea has the right to take reasonable steps to strengthen its defense capabilities, ensure national security and protect sovereignty,” he insisted.
Putin stressed that Russia remains ready to make political and diplomatic efforts to eliminate the threat of a new armed conflict on the Korean peninsula and create an architecture of long-term peace and stability based on the principle of common security for the region.
While in Pyongyang, Russian President Vladimir Putin got behind the wheel of a Russian-made Aurus limousine to take Kim Jong-un for a spin around the Kumsusan Palace grounds
Putin gifted Kim an Aurus for his personal use when the North Korean leader visited Russia back in February.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang envisages Russia and North Korea providing assistance to each other in the event of aggression against either of the countries.
In view of Western plans to deliver F-16 fighter jets and other high-precision weapons to Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia, Moscow “does not rule out the possibility of development of military-technical cooperation with North Korea in accordance with the agreement that was signed today,” Putin added.
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The “confrontational policy” pursued by Washington towards Pyongyang creates a security threat for all nations in Southeast Asia, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
The expansion of US military infrastructure in the region “goes hand in hand with the growing scale of military exercises, involving South Korea and Japan, that are clearly hostile to North Korea,” he added.
“Such steps undermine peace and stability on the [Korean] peninsula and threaten the security of all the countries in Southeast Asia,” Putin stressed, following the signing of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Speaking after signing the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that “the indefinite UN Security Council sanctions regime against North Korea, which was inspired by the US and its allies, must be revised.”
North Korea has been under harsh UNSC restrictions since 2006, when the country carried out its first nuclear bomb test.
After the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang was signed, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called Russia “the most honest friend and comrade” of his country. Russian President Vladimir Putin is “the dearest friend of the Korean people,” he added.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has described the newly signed Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang as a “peaceful and defensive” document.
“I have no doubt that it will become a driving force in accelerating the creation of a new multipolar world,” Kim said.
Russian foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov has revealed that the Russian and North Korean leaders have exchanged gifts. “We presented [Kim Jong-un] with an ‘Aurus’ car,” Ushakov said. The Russian-made family of vehicles includes limousines for senior officials. Putin and his North Korean counterpart were driven from the airport in one upon the Russian leader’s arrival in Pyongyang earlier on Wednesday. According to Ushakov, the Russian delegation also gifted Kim a naval dirk and a “very beautiful tea set.”
The official did not disclose what Putin had received in exchange, merely noting that he had been given “nice gifts, too.”
“They are connected with depictions of our president,” he hinted, adding that all of them are “of quite a high artistic value, including busts.”
Following talks in Pyongyang, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have signed a Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that will replace similar documents sealed back in 1961 and 2000.
Earlier on Wednesday, Putin said a “new fundamental document has been prepared that will lay the groundwork for our relations in the long term.”
Ahead of the top-level meeting, Russian presidential foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov explained the need for a new accord, citing the “deep evolution of the geopolitical situation in the world and the region, as well as the qualitative changes that have taken place in bilateral relations recently.” The agreement is not directed against any particular state, but rather promotes stability in northeastern Asia, he added. Ushakov stopped short of disclosing whether the document would encompass military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, merely noting that it would take into account all the latest developments, including “security issues.”
The leaders of Russia and North Korea have wrapped up one-on-one discussions, which followed talks between the countries’ delegations. Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un are about to sign a number of bilateral documents at an official ceremony, before addressing the media.
Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, involving both countries’ delegations, have concluded in Pyongyang. The negotiations lasted for an hour and a half. The two leaders are also expected to hold a one-on-one meeting later in the day.
Kim Jong-un has said North Korea “appreciates the Russian Federation’s important mission and role in upholding strategic stability and balance in the world.” He stressed that Pyongyang “fully supports and stands in solidarity with the Russian government, army and people in carrying out the special military operation in Ukraine.” The North Korean leader further pledged to back Moscow’s policies going forward. Putin, in turn, thanked his counterpart for his consistent support.
President Putin revealed that “today a new fundamental document has been prepared that will lay the groundwork for our relations in the long term.”
President Putin recalled that relations between Russia and North Korea are rooted in the two nations’ common struggle against the Japanese military during World War II, with the Red Army soldiers playing a key role in liberating the Korean peninsula. The Russian head of state also noted that Soviet military personnel provided assistance to the DPRK during the Korea War in the early 1950’s.
As talks got underway, the Russian president pointed out that the “interaction between our countries is based on the principles of equality [and] mutual respect of each other’s interests.” President Putin stated that the “solid friendship and close neighborliness” between Russia and the DPRK have spanned many decades.
According to the Russian leader, both Moscow and Pyongyang are fighting against the “US and its satellite states’ hegemonic and imperialist policies.” He also expressed gratitude to the North Korean leader for supporting Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
Speaking at the start of official talks with Kim Jong-un, President Putin expressed confidence that “our negotiations today will be productive.” The Russian head of state noted that the governments of both Russia and North Korea have been actively working to ensure that agreements sealed at previous top-level meetings materialize.
“I am very happy about our new meeting. I hope the next one will be held in Russia, in Moscow,” President Putin added, thanking his counterpart for his invitation to visit Pyongyang.
Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin have begun official negotiations at the Kumsusan residence in central Pyongyang. The countries’ delegations are also taking part in the talks at this stage.
Representing Russia are Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, presidential foreign affairs aide Yury Ushakov, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and ambassador Aleksandr Matsegora, among other top officials.
The North Korean delegation includes, among other dignitaries, Prime Minister Kim Tok-hun and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.
President Putin has joined his North Korean counterpart at Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang as an official ceremony begins. The local military orchestra played the national anthems of the two nations, with artillery guns firing a welcoming salvo.
The square is packed with local residents, who came to greet the Russian president.
Kim and Putin walked down the red carpet, with two large portraits of the leaders overlooking the venue.
The official part of President Putin’s visit to North Korea is about to get underway, with Kim Jong-un making an appearance at the venue in Pyongyang. Members of the Russian delegation, which included several top ministers as well as Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov are also in attendance.
In the run-up to President Putin’s visit, Pyongyang streets were decorated with countless Russian flags, alternating with those of the host nation. On top of that, North Korean authorities placed multiple banners along the presidential motorcade’s route, inscribed with welcoming greetings both in Korean and Russian. As seen in the footage shared by the Russian media, portraits of President Putin also appeared en masse along the streets of Pyongyang.
On arrival at the residence, Kim took his guest on a short excursion of the palace, which was adorned with white, blue and red flowers representing the colors of the Russian flag. The Russian head of state thanked his North Korean counterpart for hospitality, upon which Kim left the residence.
The two leaders left the airport in the same vehicle, and Kim saw his guest off to the Kumsusan residence for senior foreign visitors, where President Putin would rest after his flight.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that “driving along the beautiful streets of Pyongyang… the leaders shared innermost thoughts and exchanged opinions on the development of relations between the DPRK and Russia.”
The state-run media outlet pointed out that the two officials continued their conversation on arrival at the residence, with President Putin expressing “deep gratitude for the fact that Comrade Kim Jong-un personally came to the airport to cordially greet him.”
Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, earlier said that the two sides intend to sign several agreements, including a landmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.
“The approaches of the two countries to current foreign policy problems are very close or completely coincide,” Ushakov said, noting that Moscow and Pyongyang advocate the formation of a multipolar world on the principles of equality, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.
Ahead of his second trip to Pyongyang after 24 years, the Russian president outlined the goals of the visit in an article published by the leading DPRK daily, Rodong Sinmun.
Moscow and Pyongyang will develop their own trade and security arrangements, immune from pressure from the West, to bring “more democracy and stability to international relations,” Putin wrote. The countries will also “jointly oppose illegitimate unilateral restrictions, and shape the architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia,” he added.
Though it was early morning in Pyongyang, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un personally arrived at the airport as President Putin’s plane touched down. The two officials spoke for a few minutes right then and there on the red carpet surrounded by an honor guard company.