Putin seeks to court North Korea prior to scheduled visit.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, recently visit North Korea, marking his first official trip in 24 years. In a piece for North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper, Putin acknowledged the support North Korea offered during Russia's conflict in Ukraine, and highlighted their shared views on significant international matters.
Prior to his journey to North Korea, Putin lauded the secluded nation for its assistance in Russia's military actions in Ukraine. He appreciated North Korea's steadfast support for Russia's "military special operation" in Ukraine and solidarity on crucial international issues.
Putin's visit to North Korea took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, at the invitation of leader Kim Jong Un. Afterward, he heads to Vietnam for a two-day visit. The relationship between Russia and North Korea has been described as close, with the nuclear-aspiring country reportedly providing ammunition for Russia's operations in Ukraine.
In the article, Putin referred to North Korea as a "persuasive and like-minded ally," ready to challenge the Western effort to establish a multipolar world order. According to Putin, Russia and North Korea will collaborate to build a security framework in Eurasia, counter Western sanctions, and develop autonomous trade systems. "We are committed to working closely together to bring more democracy and stability to international relations. To achieve this, we will establish alternative trade mechanisms and settlement methods that are not influenced by the West," Putin wrote.
News: North Korean Soldiers Injured
According to South Korean media reports, around 20 to 30 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border into the South. The Yonhap news agency reported, based on information from the South Korean military, that North Korean soldiers crossed the boundary dividing the two countries and retreated after receiving warning shots from the South Korean army. The incident marks the second border crossing within two weeks, the report said.
Furthermore, the Yonhap news agency reported that several North Korean soldiers were hurt in an explosion of a landmine near the heavily fortified border during an activity to strengthen border control and prevent North Korean defectors. The military in Pyongyang is said to have carried out various activities, including troop deployment and landmine planting, along the border.
South Korea and North Korea are technically still at war, as hostilities ceased at the end of the Korean War but were never officially concluded. The approximately 4-kilometer-wide demilitarized zone separates the two countries, with a heavily mined border running through its center. Relations between the two nations are currently tense.
Read also:
- During his visit to North Korea, Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea's support during Russia's attack on Ukraine, emphasizing their shared views on international matters.
- The close relationship between Russia and North Korea was further accentuated when Russia reportedly received ammunition from North Korea for its operations in Ukraine, a leading aspect discussed in Putin's article in Rodong Sinmun.
- Amidst Putin's courtship of North Korea, tensions remained high between South Korea and North Korea, with reports of 20 to 30 North Korean soldiers briefly crossing the border into the South, leading to warning shots and injured soldiers on the North Korean side.
