Putin’s visit to North Korea is a very much a diplomatic two-fingers to the West
This will only be Vladimir Putin’s second visit to North Korea.
The first was soon after he assumed office in 2000, nearly a quarter of a century ago.
That’s a long time to wait for a return trip. Was it the hospitality? Or did he just have better options elsewhere?
Either way, it’s very much a case of beggars can’t be choosers right now, with Tuesday’s visit highlighting both Russia’s isolation from the West and the blossoming friendship between these two pariah states.
What does North Korea offer Russia? A lot more than camaraderie. According to the US and others, it’s supplying the Kremlin with weapons and ammunition to use in Ukraine.
In an interview with Bloomberg recently, South Korea’s defence minister said the North had sent nearly five million artillery shells to Russia since September, as well as dozens of ballistic missiles.
Moscow and Pyongyang both deny the accusation but UN monitors claim to have seen evidence. In January, they concluded the remnants of a missile fired from Russia on Kherson was that of a North Korea-made Kwasong-11 series.
Kyiv claims there are several more examples.
For North Korea, the closer ties are a big win. As well as food and fuel, analysts say Russia has provided the poverty-stricken nation with much-needed economic aid and diplomatic support.
In March, for example, Russia vetoed the UN resolution to renew the mandate of the panel of experts monitoring sanctions enforcement.
It’s also assumed Moscow is supplying some technical know-how for Pyongyang’s space and satellite programmes, after President Putin hosted Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east last September.
The stronger ties between the two is a major concern for the West and its Asian allies.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, centre, with then North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang in July 2000. Pic: AP
These are two leaders who like to warn how their fingers are poised over the red button. The primary fear in Washington and Seoul is that Russia could start supplying some of its nuclear know-how and missile technology, on top of the other assistance.
The Russian leader’s entourage for the visit certainly raises eyebrows. It includes his new defence minister Andrei Belousov as well as Denis Manutrov, the deputy prime minister responsible for defence.
The official line from the Kremlin is that there’s nothing to see here – yes, we might sign a security agreement, but it won’t be directed against any other country.
Russia’s “right” to develop good relationships with its neighbours “should not be of concern to anyone”, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
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Behind the scenes, though, they will no doubt delight in the disquiet the visit is causing.
It’s very much a diplomatic two-fingers to the West, which may bring tangible geopolitical benefits too.
If South Korea is considering providing weapons to Ukraine, for example, this might make them think twice about it.
World
Ukraine war: 14 killed as Russian missile and drone attacks strike Kyiv – including American citizen
Russian missile and drone attacks have killed 14 people in Kyiv overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.
A 62-year-old US citizen who suffered shrapnel wounds is among the dead.
At least 99 others were wounded in strikes that hollowed out a residential building and destroyed dozens of apartments.
Pic: AP
Emergency workers were at the scene to rescue people from under the rubble.
Images show a firefighter was among those hurt, with injured residents evacuated from their homes.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as “one of the most terrifying attacks on Kyiv” – and said Russian forces had fired 440 drones and 32 missiles as civilians slept in their homes.
“[Putin] wants the war to go on,” he said. “It is troubling when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye to it.”
Pic: AP
Ukraine’s interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said 27 locations across the capital have been hit – including educational institutions and critical infrastructure.
He claimed the attack, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was one of the largest on the capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Drones swarmed over the city, with an air raid alert remaining in force for seven hours.
One person was killed and 17 others injured as a result of separate Russian drone strikes in the port city of Odesa.
Pic: Reuters
It comes as the G7 summit in Canada continues, which Ukraine’s leader is expected to attend.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to hold talks with Donald Trump – but the president has announced he is unexpectedly returning to Washington because of tensions in the Middle East.
Ukraine’s foreign minister says Moscow’s decision to attack Kyiv during the summit is a signal of disrespect to the US.
Moscow has launched a record number of drones and missiles in recent weeks, and says the attacks are in retaliation for a Ukrainian operation that targeted warplanes in airbases deep within Russian territory.
Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko says fires broke out in two of the city’s districts as a result of debris from drones shot down by the nation’s air defences.
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Pic: AP
On X, Ukraine’s foreign ministry wrote: “Russia’s campaign of terror against civilians continues. Its war against Ukraine escalates with increased brutality.
“The only way to stop Russia is tighter pressure – through sanctions, more defence support for Ukraine, and limiting Russia’s ability to keep sowing war.”
Olena Lapyshnak, who lived in one of the destroyed buildings, said: “It’s horrible, it’s scary, in one moment there is no life. I can only curse the Russians, that’s all I can say. They shouldn’t exist in this world.”
World
Israeli tank shelling kills 51 people waiting for aid in Khan Younis, Hamas-run health ministry says
Israeli tank shellfire has killed at least 51 Palestinians in Khan Younis, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
Hundreds of others have been injured, with “dozens of critical cases” arriving at a medical complex.
It is feared that the number of fatalities will rise.
Pic: Reuters
The strikes took place as people waited for United Nations and commercial aid trucks in the southern Gaza city.
Witnesses said that Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on a nearby home before opening fire toward the crowd.
“Emergency, intensive care, and operating rooms are experiencing severe overcrowding,” a statement said.
Officials say medical staff “are operating with limited supplies of life-saving medicines” – with the ministry renewing an “urgent appeal” to increase aid.
Pic: Reuters
Hours earlier, Donald Trump had joined other G7 leaders to call for a “de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza”.
The Israeli military is yet to comment on this incident.
On Monday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least 34 people were shot dead near food distribution centres.
This was the highest reported daily total since Israel and US-backed aid centres opened last month, with thousands of Palestinians moving through Israeli military-controlled areas to reach them.
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