Putin's Visit to North Korea After 24 Years; Russian Attacks on Ukraine Continue

The Kremlin announced on Monday, June 18, that Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea on June 19 and 20 at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader. According to Reuters, this is Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years, with his last trip occurring in 2000. North Korea's state news agency also announced Putin's visit but did not provide further details. The meeting between the leaders of the two countries underscores the growing partnership between Moscow and nuclear-armed Pyongyang. Putin's visit comes as the U.S. and its allies condemn Moscow's military ties with Pyongyang, with the U.S. and South Korea warning against violations of sanctions. Washington claims that North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia to aid its war in Ukraine, although Pyongyang has repeatedly denied this. The Kremlin also stated that Putin will visit Vietnam on June 20 and 21. U.N. observers have concluded that at least one ballistic missile fired from Russia to a city in Ukraine in January was manufactured in North Korea. Ukrainian officials report counting around 50 similar missiles delivered by North Korea to Russia. Meanwhile, Russian attacks on residential areas and energy infrastructure in Ukraine continue. Reuters reported that in a missile attack on Monday in the Poltava region of eastern and central Ukraine, at least nine people were injured. This attack also damaged local power lines, cutting electricity to over 55,000 residential and industrial consumers. In another news, while the Euro 2024 football championship is ongoing in Germany, former Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko shared a photo on Monday of the bullet-riddled seats of the Kharkiv stadium, which was built for the Euro 2012 tournament. The Ukrainian Football Association announced that the Soniachni Stadium in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, was destroyed in a Russian shelling in 2021. Shevchenko, the current head of the Ukrainian Football Association, said, 'When I was the national team's coach, we often came to Kharkiv for training. When I learned that the stadium was destroyed, I felt like our home had been ruined. But even if the fields or football stands cannot withstand Russian bullets, we will never stop defending our country and informing the world about this ruthless war.' Ukraine and Poland co-hosted Euro 2012, with the final held in Kyiv. In addition to Kyiv and Kharkiv, matches were held in Lviv and Donetsk, attracting over a million foreign visitors to the country. Donetsk is now occupied by Russia, and Kharkiv has repeatedly been targeted by missile and drone attacks. U.S. Secretary of State in Ukraine: China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and North Korea are providing military assistance to Russia. The G7 expressed 'serious concern' over the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea. New U.S. sanctions against two individuals and three Russian companies due to military weapon transfers between Russia and North Korea. The British Defense Minister: We have evidence of 'lethal aid' flowing from China to Russia. The U.S. claims that Russia is 'secretly' selling more oil to North Korea than the U.N. limit allows. North Korea tested a medium-range missile; the U.S., Japan, and South Korea criticized it. Efforts to enforce North Korean sanctions; a U.S. official is heading to Japan and South Korea. NATO Secretary-General warns: Support from the Islamic Republic and North Korea for Russia has serious global consequences. The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.: Russia has created a global crisis in all areas by attacking Ukraine. The U.S. discussed military cooperation between Russia and North Korea with China. Increased NATO role in coordinating support for Ukraine; Zelensky: Putin's approach is similar to Hitler's. Agreement to use Russian assets; the G7 will lend $50 billion to Ukraine.