North Korea says Vladimir Putin could visit after ‘historic’ negotiations

Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted an invitation from Kim Jong Un to visit North Korea after the two held their first talks in four years, which the United States said focused on sending arms by Pyongyang to help Moscow attack Ukraine.

Kim’s propaganda apparatus praised the summit at Russia’s Vostochny space center in Amur, with the official Korean Central News Agency saying on Thursday that the two men discussed issues of mutual interest to the two countries, the peace and security in the region and international justice.

“At the end of the reception, Kim Jong Un courteously invited Putin to visit the DPRK at an appropriate time,” KCNA said, referring to the country by its official name. “Putin accepted the invitation with pleasure and reaffirmed his desire to continue the history and tradition of friendship between Russia and the DPRK.”

Kim left for his next destination, KCNA said without giving any indication of where it might take place, calling the talks between Kim and Putin a “landmark event.” Kim will visit civilian and military equipment factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and will also visit Vladivostok, Putin said earlier.

If Putin comes to visit, it will be the first time he meets Kim in North Korea. KCNA gave few details of the agreements reached during the negotiations.

The tour of the space facility highlighted some of the items that could be on Kim’s wish list in exchange for providing munitions to Russia. Pyongyang has failed to deploy a spy satellite twice this year and may seek help from Moscow to put one into orbit. Kim could also seek technology that would help his regime’s nuclear warheads survive the heat generated by their re-entry into the atmosphere.