Kim Jong Un may travel to Russia soon have drawn attention to the traditional method of travel for North Korean leaders: luxury, armored trains
A potential high-stakes meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin is just one of several indications that the Russian president may be getting nervous − even desperate − as Moscow's war in Ukraine grinds on into its 18th month.
Ukraine are cracking down on an apparent resurgence of national patriotism, launching surprise checks and propaganda efforts to stave off a possible revolt, a senior Ukrainian defense ministry official said Monday.
The New York Times also reported Monday that Kim Yong Un would likely travel from Pyongyang to Russia’s Pacific Coast city of Vladivostok in an armored train, citing unnamed U.S. and allied sources.
Putin and his Turkish counterpart aimed at reviving a grain export deal with Ukraine ended in failure Monday, with Putin saying the agreement wouldn’t be revived unless obstacles to Russian exports were removed.
“I would like to reaffirm our principled position: we will be ready to consider the possibility of reviving the ‘grain deal’ ... and we will do this immediately — as soon as all the agreements on lifting restrictions recorded in it are fully implemented for the export of Russian agricultural products,” Putin said following the talks in Sochi.
The reports come at a time when the leaders' interests are aligning in the face of their deepening, separate confrontations with the United States.
Whether Kim could again make the rattling 20-hour journey by rail is a focus of media attention, as is the reportedly luxurious train, which stands in sharp contrast to the grinding poverty of daily life for most North Koreans.
Kim also is seeking food for North Korea’s 25 million people, who are suffering from severe food shortages. At least 60% of North Koreans live in extreme poverty, according to analysts.
Both leaders would be on the campus of Far Eastern Federal University in the Russian port city just north of North Korea for the Eastern Economic Forum, which is set to run Sept. 10 to 13, according to The Times and other media outlets. They said Kim also plans to visit Pier 33, where naval ships from Russia’s Pacific fleet dock.
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