Kim Jong Un Welcomes Vladimir Putin at Pyongyang Airport

While Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday, June 30, after 24 years, he promised to deepen trade and security relations with North Korea and support the country against the United States. Russian state media released images of Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, at the airport welcoming Vladimir Putin. The Russian President's plane landed at Pyongyang Airport at 2:45 AM on Wednesday. Kim Jong Un then accompanied Vladimir Putin to his hotel. Putin emphasized the development of trade-security relations with North Korea on the day of his visit to Pyongyang. Reuters reports that the US and its allies in Asia are trying to understand how far Russia will go in supporting the North Korean leader. Concurrently with the Russian President's visit to North Korea, Vladimir Putin committed in a note to develop Moscow's trade and security relations with Pyongyang in a way that is outside Western control. This note was published in the 'Rodong Sinmun', the organ of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. The note refers to seven decades of relations and cooperation between the two countries based on 'equality, mutual respect, and trust.' Vladimir Putin, for his part, pledged to support Pyongyang's efforts to defend North Korean interests despite 'pressure, extortion, and military threats from the United States.' Putin's unprecedented official visit to North Korea will last two days. Following the initial news of Putin's visit to North Korea, the US expressed concern about the security agreements expected to be signed during this trip. Washington is worried that Russia is seeking weapons and parts for arms to use in the Ukraine war. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said on Monday that North Korea has sent dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of ammunition to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine. According to Miller, Putin has been looking to receive weapons from Iran and North Korea in recent months out of 'desperation' to send arms to Russia as compensation for lost weapons on the fronts of the Ukraine war. Russia and North Korea have denied any arms cooperation between them. John Kirby, the White House National Security Advisor, also stated on Monday that the deepening of Russia-North Korea relations could impact the security of the Korean Peninsula. The Pyongyang government has been under UN sanctions for nearly two decades due to its nuclear tests and ballistic missiles. Russia's role as a permanent member of the Security Council with veto power is significant in preventing the expansion of sanctions against North Korea. Russia, like China, views the tightening of sanctions against North Korea and the joint military exercises of the US and South Korea as provocations towards North Korea. However, Washington believes that Russia and China have emboldened the leadership of Pyongyang by supporting North Korea. After visiting North Korea, Vladimir Putin will head to Vietnam for a two-day trip, which has also displeased the US in advance. The US has been the top trading partner for Vietnam for decades and has expanded relations with Hanoi in recent years.