Russia pact with North Korea will protect us both from aggression, says Putin | BBC News
Summary
TLDRRussian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea, meeting Kim Jong-un for the first time in 24 years. The visit included a red carpet welcome and a military parade. They signed a partnership agreement, described as defensive in nature, with Putin acknowledging North Korea's right to self-defense. Kim referred to Russia as a trusted ally, and both leaders exchanged gifts. The meeting's implications for the ongoing war in Ukraine, including potential ammunition support from North Korea to Russia, are a cause for concern among international observers.
Takeaways
- 😀 Vladimir Putin visited North Korea for the first time in 24 years, meeting Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang.
- 🏰 Putin received a red carpet welcome, complete with a military parade and ceremony.
- 📝 A partnership agreement was signed between Russia and North Korea, described as defensive in nature.
- 🛡️ Putin stated that North Korea has the right to defend itself, following security and international issue talks.
- 🤝 Kim Jong-un referred to Russia as the most honest friend and ally, and Putin as the dearest friend of the Korean people.
- 🎁 Gifts were exchanged during the visit, with Kim receiving a te set and a luxury Russian-made Aurus car.
- 🗣️ Putin expressed appreciation for North Korea's unwavering support for Russia's policy, including the conflict in Ukraine.
- 🔍 The nature of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement is not fully clear, raising questions about its implications.
- 🌏 The meeting could signal a strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea, potentially impacting global politics.
- 🤔 China, which has a mutual defense treaty with North Korea, is carefully observing the new partnership, with implications for regional dynamics.
- ⚔️ The mutual defense pact might be deliberately ambiguous to keep the West guessing, with potential impacts on the Ukraine conflict.
Q & A
What was the significance of Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea?
-It was Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years, marking a significant diplomatic event and a sign of strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea.
What type of welcome did Vladimir Putin receive in Pyongyang?
-Putin was given a red carpet welcome, complete with ceremony, crowds, and a grand military parade.
What was the nature of the agreement signed between Russia and North Korea?
-The agreement signed was described as a partnership of a defensive nature, emphasizing North Korea's right to self-defense.
How did Kim Jong-un refer to Russia during the visit?
-Kim Jong-un referred to Russia as the most honest friend and ally, and called President Putin the dearest friend of the Korean people.
What gifts were exchanged between the leaders during the visit?
-Kim Jong-un received a te set and a luxury Russian-made Aurus car. The gifts Mr. Putin received were not disclosed but were hinted to be related to his image, including busts.
What did Putin say about Kim Jong-un's support for the war in Ukraine?
-Putin highly appreciated Kim Jong-un's consistent and unwavering support for Russian policy, including the fight against what he called the 'imperialist policy' imposed by the United States and its allies.
What is the perspective of South Korea on the meeting between Putin and Kim Jong-un?
-The meeting was seen as unusual from the South Korean side, and it is considered important due to the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, the details of which are still emerging.
How might China view the mutual defense pact signed by Russia and North Korea?
-China may view the pact with caution, as it already has a mutual defense treaty with North Korea and does not want to be seen as part of a trilateral alliance that could jeopardize its relationship with the West.
What implications does the meeting have for the ongoing war in Ukraine?
-The meeting could be concerning for Ukraine, as it suggests that North Korea might continue to supply Russia with ammunition, exacerbating Ukraine's shortage of ammunition for the war.
What are the potential limitations of the Russia-North Korea relationship?
-One of the main limitations is China's influence, as China has a significant trade relationship with North Korea and does not want to see its relationship with the West jeopardized by a perceived trilateral alliance.
What might be the reasons for the upgraded alliance between Russia and North Korea?
-Both countries need each other: North Korea needs financial and fuel support, which it gets from Russia, while Russia might need ammunition from North Korea to support its campaign in Ukraine.
Outlines
🤝 Putin's Historic Visit and Partnership with North Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a significant visit to North Korea, meeting with Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. This marked Putin's first visit to the country in 24 years and was met with a grand welcome, including a red carpet, military parade, and ceremony. A partnership agreement was signed, described as defensive in nature, with both leaders emphasizing the right of North Korea to self-defense. Putin praised Kim's support for Russia's stance on the conflict in Ukraine, and in return, Kim referred to Russia as North Korea's most honest ally. The visit also involved an exchange of gifts, highlighting the strengthening of ties between the two nations.
🔍 Analyzing the Implications of the Russia-North Korea Meeting
The meeting between Putin and Kim Jong-un has raised questions and concerns in the West, particularly regarding its implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While the details of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement remain unclear, it suggests a potential military alliance. China's reaction is also of interest, as it holds a mutual defense treaty with North Korea and is closely monitoring the situation. The meeting could indicate a strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea, possibly affecting the balance of power in the region. However, the extent to which this partnership will influence the war in Ukraine or the relationship with China is still speculative and requires further observation.
🚀 North Korea's Role in Russia's Military Supply Chain
The visit between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin is of particular concern to Ukraine, as it suggests that North Korea may continue to supply Russia with ammunition for its war efforts. Ukraine has faced challenges with ammunition shortages, and the potential partnership with North Korea could exacerbate this issue. Evidence suggests that North Korea has been supplying Russia since August of the previous year, possibly from its stockpiles. The sustainability of this supply is in question, as North Korea's production capacity may be limited. The nature of the support Russia provides to North Korea in return for the ammunition is also a topic of speculation, with theories suggesting it could involve raw materials or logistical support for weapon production.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡World Leaders
💡Red Carpet Welcome
💡Partnership Agreement
💡Defensive Nature
💡Security and International Issues
💡Honest Friend and Ally
💡Gift Exchange
💡Mutual Defense Pact
💡Imperialist Policy
💡Ammunition Shortage
💡Global Pariah
Highlights
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits North Korea for the first time in 24 years, meeting Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang.
Putin receives a red carpet welcome, complete with ceremony, crowds, and a grand military parade.
A partnership agreement is signed between Russia and North Korea, described as defensive in nature.
Kim Jong-un calls Russia the most honest friend and ally, referring to Putin as the dearest friend of the Korean people.
Leaders exchange gifts, with Kim receiving a te set and a luxury Russian-made Aurus car.
The nature of the gifts Putin received remains undisclosed but is hinted to be related to his image, including busts.
Putin praises Kim Jong-un's unwavering support for Russia's policy, especially regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
BBC correspondent David O discusses the unusual nature of the meeting and its implications for regional relations.
The signed agreement is compared to a 1961 agreement between the Soviet Union and North Korea, suggesting a strengthening of ties.
China's perspective on the visit is explored, with correspondent Laura Beer noting potential ambiguity in the mutual defense pact.
China's relationship with both Russia and North Korea is highlighted, including its own mutual defense treaty with North Korea.
The potential impact of the visit on the ongoing war in Ukraine is discussed, with concerns over North Korea supplying Russia with ammunition.
Ukrainian concerns are highlighted, as the visit may indicate a continued supply of ammunition from North Korea to Russia.
Evidence suggests North Korea has been supplying Russia with ammunition and weapons since August of the previous year.
The limits of North Korea's ability to continue supplying Russia are questioned, as much of the ammunition comes from stockpiles.
The potential for Russia to provide North Korea with raw materials and logistical support for weapon production is considered.
Correspondent Jean McKenzie reports from Ukraine on the implications of the meeting for the ongoing conflict.
Transcripts
now there are two world leaders who were
seen by many as outcasts on the global
stage today they came together Russia's
Vladimir Putin traveled to North Korea
to meet k Kim Jong-un in pongyang there
was a red carpet welcome for Mr Putin
for his first visit to the country in 24
years it was full of ceremony complete
with red roses crowds and a grand
military parade Russian State media is
reporting that a partnership agreement's
been signed with North Korea on
Wednesday and they said it was Defensive
in nature it quoted him as saying North
Korea had a right to defend itself he
was speaking after talks which Mr Putin
had said covered security and
international issues meanwhile Mr Kim's
been delivering remarks and he called
Russia the most honest friend and Ally
referring to President Putin as the
dearest friend of the Korean people well
the two leaders also exchanged gifts
during that visit with Mr Kim receiving
a te set and a luxury russian-made aurus
car an aid to the Kremlin said now the
Kremlin did not say yet what Gifts Mr
Putin had received but hinted they were
related to Vladimir Putin's image
including
busts well this is what Russian
president Mr Putin had to say about Kim
jong's support for the war in
Ukraine we highly appreciate your
consistent and unwavering support for
Russian policy including the Ukrainian
Direction I mean our fight against the
honic imperialist policy imposed for
decades by the United States and its
satellites toward the Russian
Federation now we can speak to David O
from the BBC Korean Service who joins me
live from Soul um you've covered North
and South Korea's relationship for a
long time first of all what is is the
perspective on this meeting today from
the South Korean
side yes I have to tell say that I've
been seen this quite unusual picture as
you also show so that the Putin and
Vadim Putin and Kim Jong together
shaking hands I mean we saw them in last
September last year but as you mentioned
this it's it's been more than 20 decade
two decades that Vladimir Putin went p
himself and they had a uh more more than
two hours of a meeting today and after
the meeting they signed an agreement and
this is very important we know this say
signed agreement that is called
comprehensive strategic partnership but
we still don't know what that exactly
means some details are emerging from the
news reports that Russian um news report
saying that Putin was quoted saying this
is the Breakthrough document and kimjun
was quoted saying this is the strongest
opport trity
but what does that means for for
instance the the war in Ukraine is that
means that North Korea will be actively
engaging war in and Ukraine we still
don't know but now some details are
emerging and that uh people are
comparing that this agreement uh similar
to the agreement they signed in 1961
before Soviet Union and that that
agreement was
uh finished by when South Korea uh made
a diplomatic ties within Russia in 1990s
so is that means that the two countries
are becoming close than ever in
1990s I think that's the possibility and
we have to wait and see okay David O
insult thank you very much for joining
us well let's take a broader look at
that meeting and see how another close
Ally of Russia China feels about this
visit well joining me now is our China
correspondent Laura beer who's been
following developments from Beijing
Laura first of all you've covered uh
South Korea and North Korea before as
well before you got to China so i' just
like to get your broader thoughts on
this meeting in the first place seeing
these two leaders side by side
exchanging those gifts for Red Carpet
welcome what's your take on
it well one of the things I'm pouring
over is that agreement that David just
mentioned it's called a mutual defense
pact and it would appear that if the
other comes under aggression as
President Putin put it in the press
conference the other would come to uh
each other would come to their aid now
how strongly that will be taken is hard
to know and it might actually be so
ambiguous uh that it's difficult for us
to to figure out and I think the other
thing is it might be deliberately
ambiguous to keep the West guessing we
may never really know but as David
alluded to there what is happening
between these two is an upgrade of the
friendship to what Kim Jong-un called an
alliance but what I would caution
because there are many across the West
many sitting in Soul in Ukraine in
Washington and in London watching this
wondering if this H isn't new so-called
Access of Evil what I would caution is
that when it comes to ties between uh
Russia and North Korea there are many
limitations and one of those limitations
is here in Beijing and they friend ship
with Beijing H China already has a
mutual defense treaty with North Korea
so they'll be looking at this document
very carefully but it seems that China
is standing back from this partnership
they may not even fully agree with it
when Mr Putin was here in May for a
visit with President XI it is understood
and was reported at the time that
Beijing officials asked Mr Putin not to
go straight to Pyongyang from here in
Beijing they said they did not like the
Optics China doesn't want to be seen as
part of a trilateral yes they say this
is a this is an agreement between North
Korea and Russia this is a meeting
between President Putin and Kim Jong-un
China wants to stand back from that and
actually H today the Chinese officials
are meeting with South Korean officials
in Soul just to show that they have
footprint right around the region and
there's a good reason from the from
China's point of view they're trying to
appeal as to the uh the world as a
global leader and they want to have a
partnership with the West they need its
business for instance they do not want
to be a global Pariah okay Laura and
you've covered the careers as well um
more specifically what else do you
think's in it for
them when I look at this uh Mutual
defense uh pact I would say that South
Korea this is the red line that South
Korea did not want so I think when we
look to see the wording of it that's
what South Korea will be looking for you
know the issue around the border right
now is incredibly tense it's the most
tense it's been I think the other thing
is um when you look at how different
things are when I was in Korea back
between
2017 H and
2022 H this was a very different North
Korean a very different Korean
partnership we had the emerging of Kim
Jong-un from Pyongyang he met with uh
the South Korean president uh three
times they met with Donald Trump three
times he met with President XI three
times back then Vladimir Putin he only
met once then they were not firm friends
and now they seem fast friends trying to
upgrade their Alliance and that is
because they need one another North
Korea needs money it needs fuel around
50% of its fuel comes from Russia and
when it comes to Russia they need
ammunition from North Korea to help its
campaign in Ukraine and that's one of
the reasons why the two are getting
together now certainly in the past this
is not a relation ship that either had
prioritized North Korea had prioritized
its relationship with China 85% of its
trade if not more comes from China so
when it comes to both of them yes
they're upgrading their partnership with
each other but they won't want to
jeopardize their relationship with China
great to have your Insight on this story
Laura Bier our correspondent in
Beijing well our correspondent in
Ukraine Jean McKenzie reports from keev
on these talks and she gave us her take
on how Ukraine is likely to be viewing
this visit look this this visit is very
bad news for Ukraine of course because
one of the major challenges that Ukraine
has faced throughout this war is a
shortage of ammunition compared to the
Russians you know Ukraine has had a
really tough time over the past 6 months
because it didn't get those vital
supplies of ammunition from the United
States because that us a package was
held up in Congress and so when it looks
to Russia and it sees that Vladimir
Putin has this partner in North Korea
which has the ability AB ility to supply
it with vast amounts of ammunition then
of course that is worrying Ukraine's
foreign minister was speaking yesterday
to the BBC's hard talk program and he
said that what this visit showed was
that neither Ukraine nor Russia was
going to be able to continue fighting
this war on its own and what it was
going to come down to essentially was
how much each side's allies were able to
provide it with and willing to provide
it with so Ukraine is going to use this
meeting to keep pressing its allies to
send more weapons but also to reiterate
this message it has that this is not
just a war in Ukraine Russia is waging a
war of aggression against the rest of
the world you know this is not just
something that even threatens Europe now
it touches Asia too we have pretty solid
evidence now that North Korea has been
supplying Russia with ammunition and
weapons since about August last year so
the United States the UK South Korea
they've all produced um intelligence to
this effect that um thousands of shi
containers have gone back between North
Korea and Russia uh filled likely with
these artillery shells we've also had
similar work from open source
investigators who've been tracking these
containers going backwards and forwards
also movement across the two Count's
rail border now a lot of this comes from
North Korea's stock piles because North
Korea is still technically a war with
South Korea so it has to hold on to a
vast number of shells some of the
estimates have been that now millions of
shells have been sent so the big
question actually is with this meeting
how much longer can North Korea continue
to supply Russia at the rate we think it
has been since about August last year
because if a lot of this stuff is coming
from stock piles of course that has a
limit so at some point North Korea is
going to have to be producing this stuff
and that might be at a slower rate now
South Korea's defense minister said
earlier this year that they had noticed
that North Korea's weapons factories
were operating at Full Tilt and one of
the questions in all of this has always
been well what is North Korea getting
back from the Russians in in return for
these weapons and some the United States
has put forward one kind of theory is
that Russia could decide to provide
North Korea with some of the raw
materials it needs to produce some of
these weapons perhaps the logistical
support that it needs to turn this stuff
around and if Russia is actually able to
amp up its production through North
Korea then of course this is very bad
news for
Ukraine that's Jean McKenzie there in
Ukraine with her thoughts on this
meeting between Kim and Putin
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