NORTH Korean Leader Kim Jong Un is allegedly planning to travel to Russia this month to meet Pres. Vladimir Putin.
Reports citing U.S. officials said Kim will possibly travel from Pyongyang by an armored train to Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific Coast where he will meet Putin.
Last month, White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby raised concerns about possible arms negotiations between Pyongyang and Moscow.
To recall, Russia already announced its plan to conduct joint military exercises with North Korea.
This statement follows Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to North Korea for the seventyth anniversary of the end of the Korean War in the month of July.
On Saturday, the Russian Ambassador to North Korea stated that he doesn’t know if there are trilateral drills that will be held between Russia, North Korea, and China. Still, he said that this move is appropriate following the trilateral military exercise conducted by South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests since 2006 and many missile tests over the years, but it rarely conducts military exercises with other countries.
North Korea a threat to ASEAN—S. Korean President
Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol branded North Korea’s advancing missile programs as a direct threat to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Yoon made the remarks in an interview with Indonesia’s daily kompas.
His words also come ahead of his visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, as he plans to join a series of annual ASEAN-related summits.
According to Yoon, the North poses a threat with its missile provocations and nuclear threats. With this, he aims to call for support in dealing with such threats.
Yoon traveled to Indonesia on Tuesday, and he is also set to travel to India later this week to attend the G20 Summit.
Eyeing the denuclearization of North Korea, the South Korean president urged unity among ASEAN countries to meet such threats resolutely.
Yoon added and reiterated that the stability in the Indo-Pacific Region is also connected to global peace and stability.
Furthermore, Yoon requested trilateral cooperation amongst Japan, South Korea, and China and hopes that the cooperation between ASEAN and the three dialogue partners in Northeast Asia will grow stronger.
Yoon also underlined Seoul’s commitment to expanding support for the ASEAN Region.
