Inviting Kim Jong-un To The Su-35 And Su-57 Fighter Jet Plants, Russia's Deputy PM: We See Potential Cooperation

Illustration of Russia's Sukhoi Su-57. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un continued his visit to Russia by visiting the city where Russia's strategic aviation industry was on Friday, including watching the attraction of the Russian iron eagle's capabilities amid fears of increasing cooperation in Moscow - Pyongyang.

Coming to Kota Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Far East, Leader Kim visited Yuri Gagarin Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnaAAZ) and the Yakolev Factory, both of which were part of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which was sanctioned by the West for the war in Ukraine. KnaAAZ also received special sanctions from the United States.

Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Leader Kim saw the construction of two feared Western Russian fighter jets, Sukhoi Su-35 and Sukhoi Su-58 in KnaAZ.

"Kim Jong-un and Denis Manturov visited the warplane assembly plant and the final assembly workshop of the Su-35 aircraft as well as the fifth generation Su-57 aviation complex," the Russian government said.

"The delegation also examines the capabilities of the factory's technology, which has been modernized and re-enhanced, for the production of machinery and special coating workshops," the government continued.

In addition, Leader Kim visited the workshop where the aircraft's fuselage and wing assembly of Russia's Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft were built, before witnessing the Sukhoi Su'35 flight demonstration.

"We have shown the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea one of our leading aircraft production facilities," said Deputy PM Manturov.

"We see the potential for cooperation in the field of aircraft construction and other industries," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Leader Kim at a summit on Wednesday, where they had various issues and deepened cooperation, inviting Kremlin leaders to come to Pyongyang.

For the United States and its allies, the development of a friendship between Leader Kim and President Putin is a concern. Washington accuses North Korea of providing weapons to Russia, accusations denied by Moscow and Pyongyang.