Kim Jong-un Reportedly Will Meet President Putin in Vladivostok, United States Monitoring Arms Shipments

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Wikimedia Commons/Alexei Nikolsky/The Presidential Press and Information Office/Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will reportedly travel to Russia this month to meet with his colleague President Vladimir Putin, while the United States is monitoring arms shipments between the two countries.

The meeting between the two leaders will reportedly be held in Vladivostok, where it is likely that Leader Kim will travel by armored train from Pyongyang, according to The National News from The New York Times citing United States and allied sources September 5.

The planned trip will come as Russia discusses joint military exercises with North Korea, after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu tried to convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Moscow during his visit to North Korea.

"Why not, they are our neighbors. There is an old Russian proverb: you do not choose your neighbors and it is better to live with your neighbors in peace and harmony," said Defense Minister Shoigu as reported by Reuters from Interfax.

Previously, the United States had warned that North Korea could provide more weapons to Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on August 30 that Uncle Sam was concerned about the progress of arms talks between the two countries.

"As we have publicly warned, arms negotiations between Russia and the DPRK are actively progressing," said National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson, using the official abbreviation for North Korea.

"We have information that Kim Jong-un expects these discussions to continue, including leadership-level diplomatic engagement in Russia," he continued.

Last week, the White House said Russia had been in secret and active talks with North Korea to obtain various munitions and supplies for Moscow's fight in Ukraine.

Kirby said that, despite North Korea's denials, Pyongyang supplied rockets and infantry missiles to Russia last year for use by its privately controlled Wagner military group.

Yesterday, Watson said Washington was urging Pyongyang "to halt its arms negotiations with Russia and adhere to the public commitments it has made not to provide or sell weapons to Russia".