Russian President Putin Visits North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Amid Sanctions

On Wednesday, Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, paid a friendly visit to North Korea’s President, Kim Jong Un, amid the ongoing sanctions on both countries.

According to the Kremlin’s press release, the visit was initiated at the invitation of the Chairman of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), President Jong Un.

Upon Putin’s arrival, the streets were decorated with his portraits and Russian flags, with an indicative banner on a building welcoming the Russian Federation.

Putin’s visit came amid growing concerns about the weapons arrangement that Pyongyang provides Moscow with munitions needed for its war in Ukraine, which Putin is now looking to broker a peace deal.

In his speech, Putin said Russia and North Korea will develop trade and payment systems “that are not controlled by the West” and jointly oppose sanctions against the countries, which he described as “illegal, unilateral restrictions.”

Notably, North Korea is under heavy U.N. Security Council economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons and missile programs, while Russia is facing US-led sanctions over its war in Ukraine.

Reacting to the visit, John Kirby, spokesperson of the U.S. National Security Council, said the deepening relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang is concerning, “not just because of the impacts it’s going to have on the Ukrainian people because we know North Korean ballistic missiles are still being used to hit Ukrainian targets, but because there could be some reciprocity here that could affect security on the Korean Peninsula.”

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