Russia and North Korea have been warned they will “pay a price” for army weapons deals between the two nations – with Vladimir Putin said to have have accepted an invitation for a second summit with Kim Jong-un.
Western nations – and neighbours of both Moscow and Pyongyang – have expressed deep concern about how a revived Russia-North Korea access could bolster Putin’s war machine in Ukraine and provide Kim with satellite and missile technology. With both leaders becoming increasingly isolated on the world stage, they have been forced to turn to each other. Putin is after ammuition and weaponry for his forces to use in Ukraine, given the number of artillery shells and missiles they have expended during the 18-month invasion, while Kim will be looking to parlay that need into help with Pyongyang’s own satellite and nuclear programmes.
