Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un today met at a Russian cosmodrome in the country’s far east.

Putin showed Kim around Russia’s most modern space rocket launch site, the Vostochny Cosmodrome, which is nestled among the forests of eastern Russia not far from the Chinese border. 

Kim arrived at Vostochny by limousine, after being brought by his armoured train from Pyongyang after crossing into Russian territory early on Tuesday. Upon arrival, Putin shook hands with him and said he was ‘very glad to see’ him. Via a translator, the North Korean leader thanked Putin for the invitation and for the warmth of his reception.

Putin also congratulated Kim on a series of North Korean anniversaries, including 75 years since the establishment of North Korea in 1948. 

The Russian warmonger then showed Kim around the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Russian state television said that Kim asked Putin a large number of detailed questions.

The meeting underscores how the two leaders’ interests are aligning in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the US.

Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky

In this pool photograph distributed by Sputnik agency, Putin and Kim Jong Un visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur region on September 13, 2023

Putin looks on before a meeting with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un

Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un together at the cosmodrome

Kim Jong Un waved as he departed by train from Pyongyang for a visit to Russia on Sunday

Washington has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia, but it is unclear whether any deliveries have been made. Both Russia and North Korea have denied those claims, but promised to deepen defence cooperation. 

For Putin, the meeting with Kim is an opportunity to refill ammunition stores that the 18-month-old war has drained. For Kim, it is a chance to get around crippling UN sanctions and years of diplomatic isolation.

Kim is expected to seek economic aid and military technology, though an arms deal would violate international sanctions that Russia supported in the past.

Kim said his decision to visit Russia four years after his previous visit showed how Pyongyang is ‘prioritising the strategic importance’ of its relations with Moscow, North Korea’s official news agency said on Wednesday.

It comes hours after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles towards the sea.

For Kim, the meeting is a chance to get around crippling UN sanctions and years of diplomatic isolation (Press Office of the Primorsky Krai region administration via AP)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia today ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that the United States has warned could see an arms deal to support Moscow ‘s assault on Ukraine. Pictured: Kim Jong Un received a red carpet send-off on Sunday 

North Korea has possibly tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. Pictured: A Ukrainian M109 self-propelled howitzer fires at Russian positions in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on Monday

Russian media said Putin showed Kim around the building where Russia’s new space launch rocket, the Angara, is assembled. The 42.7-metre Angara rocket launches objects into low Earth orbit.

Putin said he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would discuss ‘all the issues’ at their meeting on Wednesday, when asked whether they would talk about military co-operation, Russian news agencies reported.

‘We will discuss all the issues without rushing. We have time,’ Putin was quoted as saying.