A U.S. official says North Korean chief Kim Jong Un may shuttle to Russia this month to meet with President Vladimir Putin because the Kremlin tries to obtain army apparatus to be used in its battle in Ukraine
ByLOU KESTEN Associated Press
September 4, 2023, 5:11 PM
FILE – In this picture equipped via the North Korean govt, North Korean chief Kim Jong Un, middle, and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, middle left, attend a dinner party on the ruling Workers’ Party’s headquarters in Pyongyang, North Korea on July 27, 2023. Independent newshounds weren’t given get right of entry to to hide the development depicted in this symbol disbursed via the North Korean govt. The content material of this symbol is as equipped and can’t be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service by way of AP, File)
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A U.S. official mentioned Monday that North Korean chief Kim Jong Un may shuttle to Russia quickly to meet with President Vladimir Putin because the Kremlin tries to obtain army apparatus to be used in its battle in Ukraine.
The official, who was once now not approved to handle the topic publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on situation of anonymity, mentioned the U.S. expects Kim will make the shuttle throughout the month. The official mentioned the U.S. isn’t certain precisely the place or when the assembly would happen, however the Pacific port town of Vladivostok can be a most probably risk given its relative proximity to North Korea.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson famous Monday that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to Pyongyang final month and attempted to steer North Korea to promote artillery ammunition to Russia.
Watson mentioned, “We have information that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia.”
She added that the U.S. is urging North Korea “to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia.”
Shoigu said Monday that the two countries may hold joint war games.
The New York Times first reported that Kim planned to meet with Putin in Russia this month.
The White House said last week that it had intelligence indicating that Putin and Kim swapped letters following Shoigu’s visit. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the letters were “more at the surface level” but that Russian and North Korean talks on a weapons sale were advancing.
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AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this tale.
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