South Korea And The United States Observe President Putin's Visit Plan To North Korea

President Putin welcomes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (Source: Vladimir Smirnov/TASS)

JAKARTA - South Korea and the United States are watching the planned visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, although the Kremlin previously said it was normal and nothing to worry about.

President Putin's visit was deemed to be able to strengthen military relations between the two countries, which violated UN Security Council resolutions, US and South Korean officials warned on Friday.

South Korean Deputy Secretary of State Kim Hong-Kyun in an emergency phone call with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said Putin's visit should not result in more military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, which violates the resolution, according to Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In line with Kim's concerns, Campbell promised to continue working together to overcome the potential regional instability and challenges caused by the trip.

"While closely monitoring related developments, both parties agreed to respond firmly through close cooperation on North Korea's provocation of South Korea and actions that are increasing tensions in the region," the ministry said in a statement.

On Wednesday, a senior official at Seoul's Presidential Office said President Putin was expected to visit North Korea "in the coming days". Meanwhile, Russian newspaper Vedomosti on Monday reported the Kremlin Leaders would visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks.

Yesterday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had the right to develop closer ties with North Korea, not to be opposed and not to worry about being a source of fear.

"North Korea is our neighbor, our friendly country and we are developing bilateral relations. We will continue to do it in a better direction," Peskov said.

"The potential for developing our relationship is very large. We believe in our right to develop good relations with neighboring countries, there is no need to worry about anyone and cannot and should not be challenged by anyone," he said, reluctant to mention the date or agenda regarding the possibility of President Putin's visit.

Separately, signs North Korea is preparing for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit as early as this week have been confirmed at Pyongyang airport, with the planes completely cleared of the runway, according to a report on Wednesday based on satellite imagery, quoted by Kyodo News.

NK News, a website providing news and analysis of North Korea, said the planes' transfers were rare and usually attributed to the visit of a foreign leader, but it could be intended to "give room to President Putin's predecessor team."

It was further reported that recent asphalting and renovation work was detected at a Russian war monument as well as North Korea's Defense Ministry campus in Pyongyang, suggesting it was possible that President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would meet there.

A number of massive objects also appeared on Kim Il-sung Square, perhaps in preparation for the event to be attended by the two leaders, the website said based on satellite imagery.

"There is still the possibility that a parade or major event will not coincide with Putin's visit, but because Kim is likely to consider their summit very important, it is likely that North Korea will hold a special event to celebrate Russia-DPRK relations on the pitch," wrote Colin Zwirko, senior analytical correspondent at the NK Pro.

Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Russia in September, meeting with President Putin at the center of the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch in Russia's Far East.

If this happens, President Putin's visit to North Korea will be the first since July 2000, when the country is led by the late Kim Jong-il, leader Kim's father.