Expansion of Military Cooperation Between Pyongyang and Moscow Despite Global Criticism; Putin to Visit North Korea

TASS news agency reported that Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, will soon meet with Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, in Pyongyang. This meeting, which is set to take place in the near future, is another sign of strengthening cooperation between these two authoritarian leaders. During the meeting, Putin will emphasize his determination to further enhance strategic and tactical cooperation between the two countries. This cooperation could include topics such as the development of ballistic missiles, trade, and military collaboration. Putin's visit to North Korea comes amid the war in Ukraine and rising military tensions in East Asia. This trip could be seen as an effort by Putin to strengthen his relationships with allies in the region. A Kremlin spokesperson stated that the exact date of Putin's visit to North Korea is under review and will be announced later. At least 48 countries, including the United States, condemned the transfer of North Korean ballistic missiles to Russia and Moscow's use of these missiles against Ukrainian cities on December 30, 2023, and January 2, 2024, in a strongly worded statement issued on January 9. The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday, January 21, that in response to the transfer and testing of North Korean ballistic missiles to Russia, three Russian entities and one individual associated with this transfer have been sanctioned. The U.S. Secretary of State also stated in a statement that the transfer of North Korean ballistic missiles to Russia supports Russia's aggressive war, exacerbating the suffering of the Ukrainian people and undermining the global missile non-proliferation regime.