Kim Jong-un has visited a factory that builds advanced fighter jets, as his tour of Russia moves into its third day and the Kremlin revealed he and Vladimir Putin had exchanged gifts of rifles during their summit this week.
Two days after meeting Putin at a space base in Russia’s far east, where they discussed satellite technology and – possibly – a deal to provide North Korean arms for the war in Ukraine, Kim’s armoured train arrived in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where he visited a factory that makes Russia’s most modern fighter jets, Russian news agencies reported.
The regional governor, Mikhail Degtyarev, said Kim had been shown facilities producing parts for the Su-35 and Su-57 fighter jets. He also saw a demonstration flight by an Su-35.
“Our fathers and grandfathers fought together against Japanese militarism, our country supported North Korea in its fight against the United States’ imperialist ambitions in the 1950s, and today we jointly stand up to the pressure of the collective West,” Degtyarev wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Kim’s tour of the Russian far east, which Kremlin officials say will last “a few more days,” began with a closely watched meeting with Putin on Wednesday, amid US warnings that North Korea would “pay a price” if it helped arm Russian forces.
For now, the only weapons to have exchanged hands were a pair of rifles.
Putin “gave [Kim] a rifle from our production of the highest quality. In return, he also received a North Korean-made rifle,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Putin also gave the North Korean leader a “glove from a space suit that has been to space several times”.
Kim’s train was shown on Russian state media pulling into the station at Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where he was welcomed by women in Russian national costumes, as North Korean officials waited by a specially constructed ramp and red carpet.
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Some residents were pictured peering out from their balconies to watch as Kim’s convoy then swept past. City authorities said roads would be closed from 6am to 1pm on Friday to allow the leader free movement, according to local Telegram channels.
Kim was due to travel to the port city of Vladivostok to watch a display of Russia’s Pacific fleet that would “demonstrate the capabilities of the Pacific Fleet”, as well as a university and other facilities, Putin told Russian media after their summit.
The visit to the aircraft plant possibly hints at what Kim seeks to gain from Russia in exchange for help fuelling Putin’s war on Ukraine.
Russia is eager for ammunition to continue fighting in Ukraine, while North Korea wants Moscow’s help to develop its missile and space programme, and modernise its air force and navy to rival those of its far wealthier neighbour South Korea.
However, some analysts have questioned whether Russia, which has always closely guarded its…
2023-09-15 01:03:11
Original from www.theguardian.com