Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019. As the war in Ukraine stretches into its seventh month, North Korea is hinting at its interest in sending construction workers to help rebuild Russian-occupied territories in the country's east. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File)
On Tuesday, the Kremlin refused to acknowledge a probable meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which US officials have stated they expect.
According to US officials and the media, Kim will make a rare journey overseas to neighboring Russia to meet with Putin.
When asked if Kim will see Putin soon, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov answered, “No, we cannot” confirm this. “We have nothing to say on this.”
Washington has accused Pyongyang with supplying weapons to Moscow for its Ukraine offensive.
Russia is one of a handful of countries that has friendly relations with the secretive state.
As its Ukraine offensive drags on, it has in recent months worked for even closer ties with Pyongyang.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who in July visited North Korea, on Monday said Moscow was considering joint military drills with North Korea.
“Why not? They are our neighbors,” Shoigu was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency, when asked about the possible exercises.
Shoigu became Kim’s first known foreign guest since the COVID-19 pandemic when he visited Pyongyang on July 27.
He was shown Pyongyang’s nuclear missiles in a personal tour by the North Korean leader.
Russia shares a short border with North Korea on its Pacific coast.
If Kim does visit, he is expected to cross the border by armored train, as he did in 2019 when he met Putin in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.
