Rumors had been circulating for a week about Kim Jong Un’s stay in Russia. The North Korean leader, who left Pyongyang on Sunday September 10 aboard an armored train, arrived in Russia on Tuesday September 12.
The United States suspects Russia, largely isolated since its assault on Ukraine and in search of arms, of wanting to acquire military equipment from its North Korean ally. This would inevitably lead to “new sanctions” from the United States, American diplomacy once again warned.
A cargo ship in the Black Sea targeted by the Russian army?
The United Kingdom accused Russian forces on Monday September 11 of attempting to destroy a Liberian-flagged civilian cargo ship docked at the port of Odessa, in southwest Ukraine, at the end of August with several missile attacks. “Intelligence shows that the Russian army targeted a cargo ship in the Black Sea on August 24 using several missiles,” the British Foreign Office wrote in a statement.
These Kalibr-type missiles, fired from a Russian warship at sea, “were successfully shot down by Ukrainian forces,” he adds. “Despite its failure, this attack is a clear demonstration of Russia’s repeated attempts to strangle Ukraine’s economy and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s disregard for the lives of civilians and the interests of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. -East”, further asserts British diplomacy. “These attacks show how desperate (Vladimir Putin) is,” said Foreign Minister James Cleverly, quoted in the press release.
Russia announced last July that it was withdrawing from the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea, negotiated under the aegis of Turkey in the summer of 2022, believing that Western sanctions complicate its own exports. agricultural products and fertilizers. This agreement being considered vital for the world food supply, Moscow promised in early September to deliver cereals free of charge to six African countries. But, according to London, Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and Ukrainian ports have destroyed “280,000 tonnes” of grain since July, “more than Russia promised to give to African countries”.
Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia to meet Putin
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who left Pyongyang on Sunday aboard an armored train, arrived in Russia on Tuesday, where he is to discuss “sensitive issues” with Vladimir Putin in the coming days, according to the door – Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, quoted by the Russian agency Ria Novosti. Kim Jong Un is due to speak with the Russian president during his first trip abroad since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The summit with Vladimir Putin is to be held in the coming days somewhere in the Russian Far East. Moscow did not specify the date or location of the meeting. Vladimir Putin is currently in Vladivostok, in the Littoral region, for an annual economic forum which ends on Wednesday. But the meeting must take place in another setting, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov.
Washington fears that Moscow will obtain weapons for its military operations in Ukraine from North Korea, itself under sanctions because of its nuclear and missile programs. According to experts, the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un could focus on an arms deal, as the Russian president would seek to acquire shells and anti-tank missiles from North Korea.
For its part, Pyongyang is reportedly seeking cutting-edge technology for nuclear-powered satellites and submarines as well as food aid. Washington derided this meeting, seeing it as a sign that Vladimir Putin is “begging” for help in carrying out his operations in Ukraine.