Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, leaves Russia with gifts of armed and bulletproof drones

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, finished his visit to Russia on Sunday and departed on an armored train.

According to official media, Kim is bringing armed drones and a bulletproof vest as presents to the country.

Kim met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during his six-day tour. Additionally, he checked out military production and storage facilities for fighter and bomber aircraft.

Kim’s trip to Russia, his first abroad since the Covid-19 outbreak began, coincides with discussions of a weapons agreement between the two nations. It has been suggested that North Korea and Russia may support each other with Kim’s nuclear and space programs by giving Russia much-needed artillery supply.

What happened during Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia?
Tuesday marked the start of Kim Jong Un’s six-day trip to Russia.

Kim’s armored train from North Korea landed in Russia. The visit was concentrated on Russia’s Far East.

Kim spoke with Russian leaders Vladimir Putin and Sergei Shoigu during the trip, and he also paid visits to a university and military production facilities in Russia.

The summit meeting with Putin on Wednesday during which there were rumors that the two nations were attempting to negotiate a weapons agreement was the centerpiece of the trip.

Kim visited a plant that builds Russia’s most potent fighter fighters on Friday in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and another one that houses strategic bombers and other aircraft on Saturday, according to the Associated Press (AP).

According to the AP, Kim also visited a Russian cruiser. “All the Russian warplanes shown to Kim were among the types that have seen active use in the war in Ukraine, including the Tu-160, Tu-95, and Tu-22 bombers that have regularly launched cruise missiles,” they said.

Later on Saturday, Kim and Shoigu flew to Vladivostok to see the Admiral Shaposhnikov frigate. Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, head of the Russian navy, gave Kim a briefing on the ship’s capabilities and arsenal, which included long-range Kalibr cruise missiles that Russian vessels often launched against Ukrainian targets. Kim’s senior military officers, including his defense minister and the chiefs of his air force and navy, were said to have joined him on Saturday’s trip, according to North Korea’s state media, according to AP.

Kim might trade weapons for assistance with his space and nuclear programs.
The White House said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin had exchanged letters on an arms sale before to Kim’s travel to Russia and their meeting. A year before, the United States had initially raised the potential of a partnership between Russia and North Korea over Ukraine.

“A year ago, the United States issued its first alert on North Korea and Russia’s cooperation. According to declassified U.S. intelligence, officials claimed that Russia intended to purchase artillery shells for use in Ukraine. The NYT further reported that the current potential deal entails a trade-off in which North Korea provides Russia with shells in exchange for Russia assisting North Korea with satellite, nuclear, and food supplies.

Putin and Kim met at Russia’s primary spaceport, a setting that emphasizes the desire for cooperation in the field of space.

Experts have suggested that attempts to modernize North Korea’s obsolete air force, which is dependent on jets brought from the Soviet Union in the 1980s, may be included in prospective military cooperation between the two nations, according to the AP.

presents from Russia for Kim Jong Un
The regional governor visited Kim with drones and a protective jacket, according to reports in the Russian official media after the visit.

According to the Russian TASS news agency, the governor of the Primorye province gave Kim five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone, and a bulletproof jacket as presents.

According to TASS, the “leader of the DPRK received five kamikaze drones and a ‘Geran-25’ reconnaissance drone with vertical takeoff”. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK, is the official name of North Korea.

According to TASS, the governor reportedly “offered Kim Jong Un a set of bulletproof protection” and “special clothing not detectable by thermal cameras”.