Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to strengthen the mutual sovereignty of his country and North Korea ahead of his meeting with Kim Jong Un on Tuesday.
Putin addressed the populace of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in an article published by Rodong Sinmun, the official news outlet of the Central Committee of the Worker’s Party.
“I am convinced that our joint efforts will take our bilateral interaction to a higher level, which will facilitate mutually beneficial and equal cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, strengthen our sovereignty, promote trade and economic ties, people-to-people contacts and, ultimately, improve the well-being of the citizens of both states,” the Russian president wrote.
He promised to develop alternative trade and mutual settlements “not controlled by the West” that will “shape the architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia.”
Putin’s return to Pyongyang marks his first visit to the country since 2000, when he signed bilateral declarations defining “our constructive multidimensional partnership” with then-leader Kim Jong Il.
The Russian president noted “Comrade” Kim continues the policies of his predecessors and praised “the DPRK’s unwavering support for Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, [and] their solidarity with us on key international matters.”
“The United States is going out of its way to impose on the world what it calls the ‘rules-based order,’ which is essentially nothing more than a global neo-colonial dictatorship relying on double standards,” he wrote. “Nations that disagree with such an approach and pursue an independent policy face increasing external pressure. The US leadership views such a natural and legitimate aspiration for self-reliance and independence as a threat to its global dominance.”
Putin added: “No matter how hard they tried, all their attempts to contain or isolate Russia have failed. We continue to steadily build up our economic capability, develop our industry, technologies, infrastructure, science, education and culture.”
Putin closed his message by pledging to develop “people-to-people interaction” between Russia and North Korea through “academic mobility … mutual tourist trips as well as cultural, educational, youth and sports exchanges.”
Ahead of the meeting, Kim spoke of the “invincible ties between comrades-in-arms and a far-reaching strategic relationship” with Russia.
“The meaningful ties and close comradely rapport, which would continue between us in the future, will further consolidate the eternal cornerstone of DPRK-Russia relations in the new era and, on this basis, strongly promote the cause of building a powerful nation in the two countries and make a positive contribution to realizing global peace and security and genuine international justice,” he added.
The visit comes on the heels of the U.S. accusing North Korea of supplying “dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to Russia,” Reuters reports.
“The White House said on Monday it was troubled by the deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea,” per the outlet. “The U.S. State Department said it was ‘quite certain’ Putin would be seeking arms to support his war in Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied arms transfers but have vowed to boost military ties, possibly including joint drills.”
The same day the White House expressed its concerns, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for more arms from the West to be supplied to Ukraine.
“It may seem like a paradox, but the path to peace is more weapons for Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said during a visit to Washington, D.C.
Last month, Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to sign a joint statement reaffirming a “no limits” partnership.
The meeting took place during a two-day visit from Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where the two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine, Middle Eastern conflict, and collaboration on defense and economics.
"The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it," Xi told Putin, per Reuters. "China is willing to ... jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world."
"Together we are defending the principles of justice and a democratic world order reflecting multipolar realities and based on international law," Putin said, according to the outlet.
