In a somewhat surprising event, North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un and Russian president Vladimir Putin are expected to meet this month, according to U.S. authorities and the New York Times. Their meeting is expected to happen in Russia, where Kim Jong Un and his military officials will talk about several things with Putin’s party.
Russia’s goal is to secure North Korean weapons and other military supplies in their ongoing efforts to fight Ukraine. Such weapons include antitank missiles and artillery shells. The war in Ukraine has been frowned upon by the world for eighteen months, yet Putin has shown no let up in the battle to secure the nation. An alliance with Kim’s North Korea would not only provide needed supplies to keep committing these atrocious acts, but it would also give Russia some momentum with a minor victory such as securing a partnership.
Kim on the other hand would need a multitude of things from Russia. For starters, the leader wants food supplies to feed his impoverished nation. Already one of the poorest nations on the planet, the human atrocities that occur on a daily basis weaken the power of its civilians even more. Not only that, but endless stream of propaganda triggers a very difficult path of reconciliation for North Korea.
In addition to food, Kim is looking for some more advanced technology to add to North Korea’s arsenal. The nation is far behind its counterpart, South Korea, on high-tech due to its lowly economic standards compared to the rest of the international community. By supplying North Korea with nuclear submarines and satellites for better scouting, Kim will be more than willing to give up some of his warheads.
This not only poses a threat to Ukraine, but to the rest of the world. As the power of Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin continues to fester, this must be stopped not through negotiation, but through some other solution, whatever necessary.
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Image Credits: AP
