In a notable meeting at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended an offer of assistance to North Korea for launching satellites. The meeting, held in the Far East region of Russia, brought together Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in an environment symbolizing Russia’s aspirations as a space superpower.
During the opening of the meeting at the gleaming new space station, Putin highlighted North Korea’s interest in rocket engineering and space development, saying, “The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket engineering; they are also trying to develop space.” Kim Jong Un, in response, expressed North Korea’s unwavering commitment to further enhancing its traditional friendship and ties with Russia. He acknowledged the honor of meeting at the launch station, which he considered the heart of Russia’s position as a space superpower, offering a deep understanding of their shared goals.
Furthermore, Kim Jong Un conveyed his full support to Vladimir Putin in what he referred to as the “sacred fight” that Moscow is currently engaged in against “hegemonic forces,” implicitly referring to the Ukraine war. He pledged North Korea’s unwavering support for the decisions and actions of President Putin and the Russian leadership in their shared fight against imperialism. This affirmation of solidarity underscores the diplomatic and geopolitical significance of their meeting.
The choice of the Vostochny Cosmodrome as the meeting location holds particular importance. The cosmodrome symbolizes Russia’s ambitions as a space power and serves as a testament to the nation’s technological prowess. Notably, North Korea had experienced two unsuccessful attempts to launch reconnaissance satellites in the past four months. Kim Jong Un has made launching a spy satellite a top priority as part of North Korea’s efforts to advance its capabilities in ballistic missiles, drones, and submarines.
During their meeting, footage showed President Putin giving Kim Jong Un a tour of the facility, including the area where the Angara, Russia’s new space launch rocket, is assembled. This 42.7-meter booster is designed to carry payloads into low Earth orbit, a significant development in Russia’s space capabilities.
In the backdrop of this diplomatic engagement, North Korea made headlines by launching two short-range ballistic missiles from an area near its capital, Pyongyang, into the sea off its east coast shortly before the summit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured that the cooperation between the two countries, which extends to sensitive areas such as military cooperation, is not targeted at other nations. He emphasized that other countries need not be concerned about Moscow’s ties with North Korea, as the discussions primarily revolve around mutual interests in space exploration and technology.
The meeting at Vostochny Cosmodrome signifies a convergence of interests between Russia and North Korea in the realm of space exploration, while also addressing complex geopolitical dynamics. It underscores the evolving landscape of international diplomacy and cooperation in the modern era.
Sources By Agencies
