US authorities have expressed concern the pair might discuss the supply of weapons for Russia to use on the battlefield in Ukraine (Picture: AP/Reuters)
Kim Jong-un will meet with Vladimir Putin at the invitation of the Russian president, the Kremlin has confirmed.
The summit between the two leaders will take place ‘in the coming days’, a statement said.
Earlier today, South Korean media had reported that Kim had left Pyongyang on a special train bound for Russia, citing unnamed government sources.
However, journalists for the Associated Press reported that a train similar to one previously used by the leader had been spotted repeatedly moving back and forth between its station and a bridge that crosses the border river.
It is believed the meeting may take place in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, where Putin is attending the Eastern Economic Forum this week.
Last week, US authorities voiced concerns that the pair would discuss the possibility of Pyongyang supplying weapons for Putin’s soldiers to use on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Their meeting will follow a visit to North Korea by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in July.
He is believed to have sealed secret agreements for the supply of weapons for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine while there.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu watched a military parade alongside Kim two months ago (Picture: Reuters)
John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, said Shoigu had made the trip to ‘try to convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition’, adding that negotiations appeared to be ‘actively advancing’.
At the end of last month, the UK, US, Japan and South Korea issued a joint statement warning the two nations were arranging deals for ‘significant quantities and multiple types of munitions’ from North Korea to be used in Ukraine.
It continued: ‘We cannot – and we will not – stay silent as we receive more information that Russia continues to turn to rogue regimes to try to obtain weapons and equipment in order to support its brutal war of aggression.
‘We will continue to work with allies and partners to identify, expose, and counter Russian attempts to acquire military equipment from the DPRK or any state that is prepared to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.’
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