Kim Jong-un says Russia ‘will triumph against evil’ before toasting Putin’s health

Kim Jong-un told Vladimir Putin that ‘great Russia’ will triumph over ‘evil’ as the two tyrants met for talks which could lead to an arms deal supplying the Kremlin with weapons for its war in Ukraine.

The North Korean leader is expected to have struck a deal to provide Moscow with much-needed artillery shells in return for advanced satellite technology.

Kim raised a toast with a glass of Russian wine to Putin’s health and the friendship between the two countries.

He told the Russian president: ‘The Soviet Union played a very big role in the liberation of our country, as well as in the independence of our state, and our friendship has deep roots.

‘Now Russia has risen to the sacred fight to protect its sovereignty and security against the hegemonic forces that oppose Russia. And now we want to further develop the relationship.

‘We will always support the decisions of President Putin and the Russian leadership. I also hope that we will always be together in the fight against imperialism and for the construction of a sovereign state.

‘We are confident that the Russian army and people will certainly win a great victory in the sacred struggle to punish the gathering of evil that claims hegemony and nourishes expansionist illusions.’

The pair shake hands ahead of the summit (Picture: AP)

The Russian president indicated a willingness to help his fellow dictator launch his own satellites and rockets (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

During the sit-down, Putin, 70, and Kim, 39, who called each other ‘comrade’, were offered a menu including duck and fig salad, crab dumplings, sturgeon and beef with a choice of Russian wines, according to Kremlin reporters.

Putin indicated a willingness to help his fellow dictator launch his own satellites and rockets, telling reporters: ‘That’s why we came here.

‘The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket engineering; they are also trying to develop space. We’ll show our new objects.

‘We’ll talk about all the issues without haste, there is time.’

DPRK is short for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s formal name.

Kim, in turn, expressed support for Moscow’s efforts to defend its interests, in an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine. 

At the opening of the meeting with Putin at the gleaming new cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East, Kim said: ‘I find it an honour that the president has prepared an opportunity to meet at a special environment at the launch station which is the heart of your position as a space superpower and given us a deep understanding of the way forward.’

The choice to meet at Vostochny Cosmodrome – a symbol of Russia’s ambitions as a space power – was notable (Picture: Reuters)

The summit between the leaders of the two countries, which have become increasingly isolated internationally, is being watched closely by Washington and allies, who suspect they could agree to trade arms and defence technology.

North Korea may have tens of millions of aging artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could give a huge boost to the Russian army in Ukraine, analysts say.

The United States has accused Kim’s regime of providing Russia with arms, including selling artillery shells to the Wagner mercenary group.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied such intentions.

The choice to meet at Vostochny Cosmodrome – a symbol of Russia’s ambitions as a space power – was notable, as North Korea twice failed to launch reconnaissance satellites in the past four months.

Kim has made it a top priority to launch a spy satellite, while pushing his nuclear-armed country to step up the development of ballistic missiles, drones and attack submarines.

Television footage showed Putin giving Kim a tour of the facility including the building where the Angara, Russia’s new space launch rocket, is assembled.

The 42.7-metre booster launches payloads into low Earth orbit.

After leaving the cosmodrome, Putin said, Kim will fly to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where he will visit an aircraft plant, and then go to Vladivostok to attend ‘a demonstration of capabilities’ of Russia’s Pacific Fleet and visit a university.

Shortly before the summit, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles from an area near the capital (Picture: AFP via Getty)

Shortly before the summit, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles from an area near the capital, Pyongyang, into the sea off its east coast.

It was the first such launch by the North while Kim was abroad, analysts said, demonstrating an increased level of delegation and more refined control systems for the country’s nuclear and missile programmes.

Kim had made just seven trips abroad in his 12 years in power, all in 2018 and 2019. He also briefly stepped across the inter-Korean border twice.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two countries cooperate in ‘sensitive’ areas, including military cooperation but it is not targeted at other countries and they should not be concerned about Russia’s ties with North Korea.

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