Russian President Vladimir Putin was feted with a red-carpet welcome, a military ceremony and a warm embrace from North Korea’s Kim Jong Un as he began a state visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday.
Putin in return presented the North Korean leader, with a Russian-built Aurus limousine, a tea set and an admiral’s dirk, Russia’s state news agency said on Wednesday.
Kim received Putin at the airport, with the pair hugging on a red carpet, to amplify the deepening relationship that has generated concern in Seoul and Washington.
The pair proceeded to a welcome ceremony in Kim Il Sung Square, featuring a military band and mass synchronised dancing,
The North Korean Leader hailed a “new era” in relations and said his country fully supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The United States and its allies have alleged that North Korea is supplying weapons to Russia to continue its war in Ukraine and there are serious concerns that Putin’s visit might lead to further military shipments. Pyongyang has described allegations of supplying weapons to Russia as ridiculous.
It is the second time both leaders are meeting in a year after Kim took his bulletproof train to Russia’s Far East last September.
At the start of yesterday’s summit, Kim said “Relations between our countries are entering a new era of blossoming, which cannot be compared even with the period of Korean-Soviet relations of the last century”.
This “new era” appears to be a mutual defence pact after Putin disclosed on Wednesday that “The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement.”
It is also believed that Putin’s visit is part of Russia’s drive to counter US influence in Northeast Asia considering that the Russian leader will make a stopover in Vietnam before heading home.