Announced several days ago, the interview between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un finally lasted two hours and provoked reactions, notably from Washington.
Kim Jong-un assured Vladimir Putin of “great victory” following the war in Ukraine. The North Korean dictator got off his armored train on Wednesday, September 13, at the station. Vostochny (Russia) where the Russian president was waiting for him. This meeting – and the statements that followed – sparked international reactions. On the war front, the day was marked by new strikes in the Black Sea as well as consequences on Romanian soil. Here’s what you need to remember.
The meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un has not yet delivered all its promises
If Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin assured “talk about all subjects”, the question of a possible agreement on deliveries of military equipment is on everyone’s minds. As soon as he left his armored train, the North Korean dictator promised the Russian president that Moscow would win a “great victory”. The war in Ukraine was not directly mentioned, with Kim Jong-un instead discussing “L“sacred struggle to punish the gathering of evil which claims hegemony”.
Before visiting the Vostochny cosmodrome facilities, the two men shook hands. They have then spoke for about two hours with their delegations before meeting face-to-face and participating in a lunch. During the meal, Vladimir Putin toasted the “future strengthening of cooperation” and see “prospects” between the two countries, despite international sanctions weighing on Pyongyang.
Kim Jong-un, for his part, described this summit as “springboard” for their bilateral relationship and affirmed that he will make his ties with Russia, the “absolute priority” of his diplomacy. This summit is expected to last several days since the Russian president has promised a “demonstration” next military capabilities of the Russian fleet to the North Korean dictator. Several visits were also announced by Vladimir Putin: to factories producing civil and military aeronautical equipment, to the Far Eastern Federal University and to the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Reactions “concerned” of the international community
The UN Secretary General quickly reacted to the potential for a military agreement to be decided between Moscow and Pyongyang. “Any form of cooperation by any country with North Korea must respect the sanctions regime imposed by the UN Security Council” insisted Antonio Guterres. North Korea is under numerous international sanctions because of its nuclear and ballistic programs. “Russia respects all these restrictions” however declared Vladimir Putin.
The American administration has warned that it “don’t hesitate[ait] not” to impose additional sanctions on both countries. The United States said “concerned about any emerging defense relationship between North Korea and Russia”, continued National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Wednesday. In the evening, Washington approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets to North Korea’s neighbor, South Korea.
Romania identifies drone fragments “similar to those used by the Russian army” on his ground
This is the third time in a few days that Romania has discovered drone debris on its territory. The first results of analysis of fragments discovered on Wednesday near Nufăru are those “a drone similar to those used by the Russian army” according to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense.
This village is only a few kilometers from the port of Izmail, located in the Ukrainian oblast of Odessa and regularly targeted by strikes. In a press release, the Ministry of National Defense recalled on Wednesday that “the attacks by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube, carried out near the border with Romania, are unjustified and in serious contradiction with the rules of international law”. An investigation has been opened in Romania.
These attacks against a NATO member country were judged “destabilizing” by Jens Stoltenberg. The NATO Secretary General spoke on his X account on Saturday, after the first discovery of drone debris in Romania.
New shots in the Black Sea
Russia claimed on Wednesday that it had destroyed three Ukrainian drones in the Black Sea. This announcement followed strikes which hit a Sevastopol shipyard in the Crimea region earlier today. The pro-Russian governor of this territory annexed by Russia reported 24 injured.
DRussian drones had targeted the port infrastructure of Izmaïl the previous night. “Damages were observed”reports Odessa Governor Oleh Kiper on Telegram. “Six civilians” were taken to hospital, including “tthree people in serious condition.