North Korea rolls out the purple carpet for Putin as West fears nuclear implications

Russian President Vladimir Putin was met with a grand reception in Pyongyang, North Korea on Wednesday amid issues from Western officers in regards to the two nuclear-armed nations’ rising relationship.

North Korean state TV confirmed the 2 leaders warmly embracing on a purple carpet outdoors Pyongyang Worldwide Airport after Putin landed round 2:45 a.m. native time, kicking off his first go to there in 24 years.

The state TV report confirmed the 2 leaders leaving in a automotive collectively in addition to photographs of Pyongyang streets lined with flags, banners and posters selling Putin and relations with Russia. 

Throughout their preliminary assembly, the Russian and North Korean leaders shared their “pent-up inmost ideas” and agreed to additional develop their nations’ relations, state media KCNA reported.

The official newspaper of North Korea’s ruling occasion reported on Tuesday that Putin had praised Kim Jong Un’s management and promised to assist develop commerce and strengthen safety throughout Eurasia. The article added that he helps the DPRK’s opposition to its “harmful and aggressive” enemies.

Forward of the journey, anticipated to final two days, Russian officers had additionally signaled that the nations may signal a “complete strategic partnership” amid rising ties. 

Western nations — which closely sanction each Russia and North Korea — have been carefully monitoring developments of the go to and the potential ramifications for Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean Peninsula. 

NATO Secretary-Common Jens Stoltenberg advised a joint press briefing on Tuesday that Putin’s journey “confirms the very shut alignment between Russia and authoritarian states like North Korea,” in addition to China and Iran. Stoltenberg delivered the feedback alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

U.S. officers have asserted that Pyongyang equipped Russia with dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions for its conflict in Ukraine and that Putin may use his journey to foyer for extra weaponry.

“We’re, after all, additionally involved in regards to the potential help that Russia offers to North Korea in the case of supporting their missile and nuclear packages,” stated Stoltenberg. 

Chatting with CNBC’s “Squawk Field Asia” on Wednesday, Victor Cha, senior vp of Asia and Korea chair for the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research, agreed that North Korean weapon provides to Russia may very well be reciprocated by way of Kremlin help for its nuclear program.

“The query is how badly Putin feels he wants the ammunition from North Korea to outlive and to win the conflict,” stated Cha. “That will decrease the bar for what he is prepared to present to North Korea, notably if Kim drives a tough deal.”

Early final yr, Kim ordered the “exponential” growth of his nation’s nuclear arsenal and the event of extra highly effective intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported. 

“The primary vendor for that [expansion] will more than likely be Russia,” stated Cha. “For the US, this can be a actual downside… The Ukraine conflict is about the perfect factor that might have occurred for Kim Jong Un.”

The White Home has warned that any Russian assist to North Korea’s weapon packages may have repercussions for South Korea. 

On Tuesday, White Home spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre advised a information briefing that rising Russia-North Korea ties “must be of nice concern to anybody enthusiastic about sustaining peace and stability within the Korean Peninsula.”

Cha stated, nevertheless, the US could also be restricted in its potential to sluggish the stream of weapons between Russia and Korea, with out the chance of direct conflict.

“[The Biden administration] is giving it extra public consideration, however on the coverage facet, I do not actually see any indicators of what they’re making an attempt to do with regard to this,” he stated.