The war in Ukraine is not going as Putin wants.
Now he is exchanging letters with an unexpected friend in Kim Jong-Un, according to new intelligence.
– It is desperation and weakness, says American security chief John Kirby.
When the war in Ukraine has not gone according to plan, Russian President Vladimir Putin has looked eastward from Moscow for help.
One of Putin’s biggest partners on the Asian continent is China. Among other things, the countries have held joint military exercises during the summer.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ensured that Russia received some military equipment for the front in Ukraine. According to US data, which NBC reports onChina has shipped over drone parts, fighter plane parts and navigation equipment to Russian defense manufacturers.
An unexpected friendship
But now Putin has sought out a more unexpected friendship to strengthen his military capabilities. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
They have deepened their ties to each other, and above all their ambitions for military cooperation. A new US intelligence report flags that the countries have a potential arms deal on the table, something CNN writing about.
– We are concerned that North Korea continues to consider military support for the Russian forces in Ukraine, says John Kirby of the US Security Council.
– We have new information that the arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are actively advancing.
The arms deal, which is denied by North Korea officially, would involve significant amounts of ammunition for, among other things, artillery.
Secret correspondence
In addition to official Russian visits to the capital Pyongchang from military leaders such as Sergei Shoigu, a more intimate discussion is taking place between the leaders.
In secret letters between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un, they write promises to expand bilateral cooperation between the countries, says John Kirby.
That Putin is forced to expand his contact network to find more funds for the war in Ukraine is severely criticized.
– There is no other way to look at it than desperation and weakness, says Kirby to CNN.
Simulated nuclear attack
While Russia’s focus is on Europe and Ukraine, North Korea has its own conflict. The one with neighboring South Korea and their ally: the United States.
North Korea confirmed on Thursday that it had practiced nuclear weapons attacks. In simulations, they have attacked targets in South Korea, writes the Norwegian Dagbladet with reference to Reuters.
In addition to the simulation, they also launched two real missiles to show their anger at the US presence in North Korea’s vicinity.