Kim, Putin vow to boost ties in Beijing summit

Kim Jong-un left and Russian President Vladimir Putin right held talks at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Sept 3 during Kim’s visit to attend China’s 80th Victory Day military parade in this photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency the following day Yonhap — Kim Jong-un (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) held talks at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Sept. 3 during Kim’s visit to attend China’s 80th "Victory Day" military parade, in this photo released by the official [North] Korean Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Beijing on Wednesday, pledging to strengthen their partnership and voicing support for each other's strategic priorities, Pyongyang's state media reported Thursday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim and Putin discussed "long-term plans for cooperation" in detail and "reaffirmed their steadfast will to continue to lead the bilateral relations to a high level." The summit took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse after China's "Victory Day" celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The two leaders also exchanged views on "important international and regional issues" in what KCNA described as "comradely and friendly atmosphere." Putin praised "bravery and heroism" of North Korean troops deployed to the Kursk region amid the war in Ukraine, saying the "relations between the two countries are special ones of trust, friendship and alliance." He also asked Kim to "convey the warmest greetings" to North Korean people.

Kim, in return, said Pyongyang would "fully support the struggle of the Russian government, army and people for defending the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests." He pledged North Korea "remain faithful to the implementation" of the bilateral treaty signed in June 2024, which includes a mutual-defense clause. Putin again invited Kim to visit Russia, though the state media made no reference to it.

The summit followed a rare joint appearance by Kim, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who stood side by side on Tiananmen during the massive military parade. The display was widely viewed as symbolizing a deepening geopolitical divide, with China, North Korea, and Russia agon one side and Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. on the other.

KCNA, in a separate report, said Kim took part in Beijing's celebrations, where he greeted Xi, met with war veterans and attended a state reception. With the North Korea–Russia summit wrapped up after the parade, attention is now turning to when Kim might sit down with Xi.

Cheon Soram cheons@ajupress.com