Kim's entourage suggests military focus for Putin summit

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Kim's entourage suggests military focus for Putin summit

Published: 12 Sep. 2023, 17:19 Updated: 12 Sep. 2023, 21:34

SARAH KIM
kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves before departing on his armored train to head to Russia Sunday for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as seen in a photo released by the state-run Rodong Sinmun on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Russia on his armored train early Tuesday, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry, and is expected to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon in what could be a symbolic occasion to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

Jeon Ha-kyou, a Defense Ministry spokesman, said in a briefing in Seoul that South Korean military intelligence believes that Kim's train had crossed into Russia early Tuesday and is closely monitoring the situation to see if any arms deals are made between Pyongyang and Moscow amid the war in Ukraine.

"The Ministry of National Defense believes that Kim Jong-un entered Russia via a private train early this morning," Jeon told reporters. "In particular, considering that many military personnel are accompanying him, we are closely monitoring whether negotiations related to arms trade and technology transfers between North Korea and Russia will proceed."

He noted that since the Eastern Economic Forum is being held in Vladivostok, the military assesses that "there may be a [meeting] schedule related to it" and is "keeping a close eye on the remaining issues."

The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed Tuesday morning that Kim had left Pyongyang for Russia aboard his armored train Sunday afternoon, accompanied by leading officials of his ruling Workers' Party and armed forces.

He was sent off by senior officials, including Kim Tok-hun, a member of the Presidium of the political bureau of the party's Central Committee, who wished him "good health" and a "successful foreign visit," said the KCNA.

Pyongyang residents also saw leader Kim off, who was spotted in state media photos waving before boarding his green and yellow train at a station in Pyongyang.

The impending summit follows a New York Times report last week that Kim plans to travel to Vladivostok to meet Putin, and that the two leaders could discuss supplying weapons for Russia's war in Ukraine.

North Korea, known to have a large stockpile of artillery shells, could potentially provide ammunition to Russia, which has depleted its supply, in exchange for Moscow's technologies related to nuclear-powered submarines, missiles and satellites much desired by Pyongyang, according to defense analysts. Russia could also provide food and energy assistance much needed by the North.

President Yoon Suk Yeol in a Cabinet meeting Tuesday stressed that "all permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as United Nations member states, must respond responsibly to North Korea's violation of Security Council resolutions," repeating his message conveyed to world leaders at a series of Asean and G20 meetings in Indonesia and India last week.

China and Russia are two of the five veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, often accused by the United States, another permanent member, and its allies of not doing enough to enforce sanctions to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile weapons programs.

"Many countries are watching with some concern the summit between North Korea, sanctioned by the United Nations, and Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council," a presidential official said Tuesday. "The president has expressed his hopes that Russia will act responsibly as a permanent member of the UN Security Council."

He added that the South Korean government is "completely aware of the situation and is fully prepared, both independently and in cooperation with our allies."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un greets senior officials in Pyongyang before boarding a train to head to Russia Sunday afternoon in a photo released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Photos released by the KNCA indicated that Kim could be accompanied by top diplomatic and military officials including Foreign Minister Choe Sun-hui, who has often accompanied the young leader in his previous overseas trips, and Ri Pyong-chol and Pak Jong-chon, both Korean People's Army marshals and members of the powerful politburo presidium. Ri is known for having had a role in leading the regime's nuclear and missile development program.

Other officials that could be a part of his entourage include Pak Hun, a vice premier who oversees the North's construction sector, Pak Thae-song, a vice chairman of the Worker's Party and chairman of a space science and technology committee which oversees the North's spy satellite launches, and Jo Chun-ryong, director of the munitions industry department. O Su-yong, director of the party's economic affairs department, in charge of space and economy affairs, was also likely included.

The plethora of officials related to North Korea's arms, space and economic sectors included on the trip suggests the upcoming summit will focus on defense and economic cooperation, raising the possibility of sanctions evasion.

Russian media outlet "Vesti Primorye" reported Tuesday that Kim's train arrived at the Russian border city of Khasan on Tuesday, citing a railway source, and is on its way to Ussuriysk, a city in Primorsky Krai, or the Russian Far East.

Later, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that Kim's train had crossed a bridge over the Razdolnaya river, bordering China and Russia's Primorsky Krai, and was headed northward.

The KCNA said late Monday that Kim will have talks with Putin during his visit to Russia, without confirming further details.

The Kremlin also confirmed Monday that Kim was set to arrive in Russia at the invitation of Putin in the coming days and that a meeting between the two countries leaders would take place "shortly."

Putin made a two-day visit to Vladivostok on Monday to attend the annual Eastern Economic Forum being held at Far Eastern Federal University and was due to speak at a plenary session scheduled for Tuesday, making Vladivostok a likely venue for the meeting with Kim.

However, the Kremlin said that the leaders are not expected to meet at the forum itself, opening the possibility that the summit could take place in another location, such as Khabarovsk, which has easy access to Russian military factories, or Vostochny Cosmodrome, a spaceport in the Russian Far East.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claps during a plenary session at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, Tuesday. [AP/YONHAP]

Putin reportedly said at the forum Tuesday that he has plans to visit Vostochny Cosmodrome, without confirming if he will be meeting Kim there, leading to further speculation that this might be the summit location. Vostochny is located around 2,300 kilometers away from Pyongyang.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesperson, said that Putin and Kim will lead their delegations in talks and could also meet "one-on-one if necessary." Putin also plans to host an official dinner for Kim.

Peskov also said, according to Russian media, that the Security Council "is also becoming a topic of discussion," forecasting that UN sanctions could be a topic of discussion in the upcoming summit.

If necessary, Russia is "ready to discuss UN sanctions against North Korea," he said.

The White House last week warned North Korea against providing any lethal weapons to Russia, saying it will "pay a price" in the international community if it does.

Yoon also called for an immediate halt to any "attempts at military cooperation with North Korea that undermines peace in the international community," seen to be directed at Russia, in a summit with Asean leaders last Wednesday.

In July, Yoon made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and promised to provide Ukraine with a comprehensive package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance through the so-called "Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative."

At the G20 summit in New Delhi Sunday, Yoon pledged an additional $300 million in short-term aid for Ukraine next year and another $2 billion in mid- to long-term support for its war recovery efforts.

Defense Ministry spokesman Jeon said Tuesday that there has been "no change in the government's position regarding support for Ukraine" regarding the provision of lethal weapons to the war-torn country. Korea has officially maintained the position it will not provide lethal aid to countries at war.

A green train with yellow trimmings, resembling one used by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his previous travels, is spotted near the North Korea border with Russia and China seen from China's Yiyanwang Three Kingdoms viewing platform in Fangchuan in northeastern China's Jilin province on Monday. [AP/YONHAP]

Kim's last overseas trip was a visit to Vladivostok, in Russia's Far East, in April 2019, which was also for a summit with Putin. North Korea recently reopened its borders following a lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic since early 2020.

Kim's luxurious, slow-moving bulletproof train is known to be equipped with communication devices necessary to function as the leader's moving office. The train has often been a preferred mode of transportation for North Korean leaders, including the late Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father, who feared flying.

When Kim Jong-un met Putin in Vladivostok in April 2019, he traveled a distance of about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) by train.

The train trip could take 20 hours or more.

Due to the poor condition of North Korea's rail tracks, the train is able to run at about 60 kilometers per hour (37.2 miles per hour). The rail spacing between North Korea and Russia is different, so the train's wheels may have to be changed midway.

Kim also traveled over 60 hours by train for his second summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2019 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]