Putin's Historic Visit To North Korea: Big Steps To Face US Pressure

Kim Jong Un (left) shook hands with Putin when the two leaders of the country held a historical meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Oblast Amur, Far Eastern District, Russia (13/9/2023). (ANTARA/KCNA/tm/aa. (Handout KCNA)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin made an official visit to North Korea for the first time in 24 years.

In this visit Putin promised to deepen trade and security ties with North Korea and support the country in dealing with the United States (US).

The United States and its allies in Asia are trying to find out how far Russia will go to support North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose country is the only one who has tested nuclear weapons in the 21st century.

Putin also praised Pyongyang for being able to survive what he called economic pressure, extortion, and threats from the United States.

In an article published by North Korean state media, Putin praised Kim's "Camerad", and pledged to "together fight illegal unilateral restrictions", develop trade, and strengthen security across Eurasia.

"Washington, by refusing to implement the agreement previously reached, is constantly filing new demands that are increasingly stringent and clearly unacceptable," Putin said in the article, which was printed on the front page of Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of North Korea's ruling Labor Party.

"Russia has always supported and will continue to support the DPRK and the heroic Korean people in fighting enemies who are cunning, dangerous, and aggressive," continued Putin.

During this visit Putin also reminded that the Soviet Union was the first country to recognize the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) founded by Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, less than two years before the 1950 Korean War.

North Korean state media also published articles praising Russia and supporting military operations in Ukraine, calling it "the holy war of all Russian citizens".

Putin's state visit comes amid accusations by the United States that North Korea has supplied "tens of ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 containers of ammunition to Russia" for use in Ukraine. South Korea, a close ally of the United States, has also raised similar concerns.

After North Korea, Putin will visit Vietnam on June 19-20.