Putin holds call with North Korea’s Kim ahead of Trump meeting
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the development in the countries' ties under a strategic partnership agreement signed in 2024.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
MOSCOW - Mr Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to brief him on the war in Ukraine ahead of the Russian President’s planned summit with US President Donald Trump
During the call on Aug 12, Mr Putin thanked Mr Kim for supporting his war on Ukraine as the two leaders “exchanged views on the issues of mutual concern”, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The Kremlin had earlier said Mr Putin shared information with Mr Kim “in the context of the upcoming talks” with Mr Trump.
“Kim Jong Un expressed firm conviction that the DPRK would always remain faithful to the spirit of the DPRK-Russia treaty and fully support all measures to be taken by the Russian leadership in the future,” KCNA said, referring to a mutual defence pact the two leaders signed in 2024.
DPRK stands for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The phone conversation, which was held in a “warm comradely atmosphere”, according to North Korea, took place just three days before Mr Putin and Mr Trump are set to meet in Alaska as part of the latest US effort to negotiate a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year.
Mr Putin has demanded that Ukraine cede the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, territory that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has said is non-negotiable.
Mr Trump has suggested he was on board with the idea of Russia and Ukraine swopping some territory
The latest call follows Mr Putin’s phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Aug 8 during which Mr Xi said he was glad to see the US and Russia talking.
Mr Putin also spoke to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week.
Mr Kim has emerged as a key ally of Mr Putin and his war in Ukraine, helping boost Moscow’s fighting presence on the ground while raising concerns about North Korea’s ability to strengthen its military and sustain its regime with Russian backing.
When Mr Putin visited Pyongyang in June 2024 – his first trip to North Korea in 24 years – the two leaders revived a Cold War-era agreement to provide immediate military assistance if either country is attacked.
Mr Putin also invited Mr Kim to visit Moscow.
Mr Kim and Mr Putin agreed to further enhance their partnership and “make closer contact in the future”, KCNA said. BLOOMBERG
