North Korean state media says Kim Jong Un discussed arms cooperation with Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held discussions with Russias defence minister on strengthening strategic and tactical coordination between the countries militaries the Norths state media said Sunday as Kim continued a visit to Russias Far East that has raised concerns about an arms alliance that would fuel Moscows war on UkraineThe talks with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu came after Kim on Friday was shown some of Russias most advanced weapons systems deployed for its war on Ukraine including nuclearcapable bombers and hypersonic missiles and a key warship of its Pacific fleet the Korean Central News Agency saidKims trip highlighted by a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday has underscored how their interests are aligning in the face of separate intensifying confrontations with the WestUS and South Korean officials have said North Korea could provide badly needed munitions for Putins war on Ukraine in exchange for sophisticated Russian weapons technology that would advance Kims nuclear ambitionsWhile his predominant focus is on military cooperation Kim also appears to be using his trip to encourage broader exchanges between the countries as he tries to break out of diplomatic isolation The governor of Russias Primorye region which includes Vladivostok said he plans to meet with Kim on SundayGov Oleg Kozhemyako said on his messaging app channel they would discuss exchange programs for schoolchildren to attend summer camps in one anothers country and other ways to cooperate in sports tourism and culture Russian media said Kim may also visit food industry businesses in PrimoryeA day after visiting an aircraft plant in KomsomolskonAmur that produces Russias most powerful fighter jets Kim on Saturday travelled to an airport near the port city of Vladivostok where Shoigu and other senior military officials gave him an upclose look at Russias strategic bombers and other warplanesAll the Russian warplanes shown to Kim were among the types that have seen active use in the war in Ukraine including the Tu160 Tu95 and Tu22 bombers that have regularly launched cruise missilesDuring Kims visit Shoigu and Lt Gen Sergei Kobylash the commander of the Russian longrange bomber force confirmed for the first time that the Tu160 had recently received new cruise missiles with a range of more than 6500 kilometres over 4040 milesShoigu who had met Kim during a rare visit to North Korea in July also showed Kim another of Russias latest missiles the hypersonic Kinzhal carried by the MiG31 fighter jet that saw its first combat during the war in UkraineKim and Shoigu later travelled to Vladivostok where they inspected the Admiral Shaposhnikov frigate Russias navy commander Adm Nikolai Yevmenov briefed Kim on the ships capabilities and weapons which include longrange Kalibr cruise missiles that Russian warships have regularly fired at targets in UkraineKCNA which has reported Kims activities in Russia a day late while crafting the details to meet government propaganda purposes said Kim was accompanied on Saturdays visits by his top military officials including his defense minister and the top commanders of his air force and navyFollowing a luncheon Kim and Shoigu talked about the regional security environment and exchanged views on practical issues arising in further strengthening the strategic and tactical coordination cooperation and mutual exchange between the armed forces of the two countries KCNA saidIn their July meeting Kim gave Shoigu a similar inspection of North Korean weapons systems before inviting him to a massive parade in the capital Pyongyang where he rolled out his most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the United StatesKims visits to military and technology sites this week possibly hint at what he wants from Russia perhaps in exchange for supplying munitions to refill Putins declining reserves as his invasion of Ukraine becomes a drawnout war of attritionKims meeting with Putin was held at Russias main spaceport a location that pointed to his desire for Russian assistance in his efforts to acquire spacebased reconnaissance assets and missile technologiesExperts have said potential military cooperation between the countries could include efforts to modernise North Koreas outdated air force which relies on warplanes sent from the Soviet Union in the 1980sKim in recent months has also refocused on strengthening the countrys navy which analysts say could be driven by ambitions to obtain Russias sophisticated technologies for ballistic missile submarines and nuclearpropelled submarines as well as to initiate joint naval exercises between Russia and North KoreaLater Saturday Kim visited a local theatre to watch Pyotr Tchaikovskys Sleeping Beauty ballet performance KCNA said Kim received a rousing ovation by people at the theater and expressed deep thanks to the performers and the theater for their impressive and elegant ballet of high artistic value Russias RIA Novosti state news agency said Kim left after the first actThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever