Presidential Office on North Korea-Russia Summit: "Many Countries Concerned... Russia Must Act Responsibly"

Kim Jong-un Arrives in Russia for Summit with President Putin
North Korea-Russia... Possibility of Technology Transfer and Resolution of War Material Shortages

The Presidential Office stated on the 12th regarding the North Korea-Russia summit, "We hope Russia acts responsibly as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council." It is reported that Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, arrived in Russia for a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the same day.

A Presidential Office official met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon and said, "The government is independently and cooperatively working with allies and friendly countries to comprehensively understand the situation and is fully prepared." The official added, "Many countries are watching with concern the meeting between North Korea, which is under UN sanctions, and Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council," and "President Yoon has expressed hope that Russia will act responsibly."

Currently, the political circles anticipate that North Korea will push for technology transfers to accelerate nuclear and missile development despite sanctions through this meeting, while Russia will seek to resolve shortages of war supplies caused by the prolonged invasion of Ukraine.

In fact, analyses suggest that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia aligns with their mutual interests: North Korea needs a breakthrough due to prolonged international sanctions, and Russia is confronting the Western bloc due to the war. However, there is also an opinion that Russia is unlikely to provide 'core technology' to North Korea. Russia’s purchase of North Korean weapons and North Korea’s provision of labor are serious issues that directly violate UN Security Council sanctions.

The Presidential Office’s demand for responsible behavior from Russia is related to this point. Some believe that if Western surveillance monitoring Russia detects a 'dangerous deal' between the two countries, Russia’s position as a permanent member of the Security Council could be further destabilized.