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Kim Jong-un is planning to travel to Russia this month to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, it has been reported.<\/p>\n
American and allies believe the North Korean leader would be willing to make a rare foreign trip in order to hash out details of a rumoured arms deal, it has been claimed.<\/p>\n
The officials, the New York Times wrote, believe the dictator would travel from Pyongyang to Vladivostok, a city on the Russian Pacific coast, to meet Putin.<\/p>\n
The leader of the hermit country may also go to Moscow, if the trip recently undertaken by 20 North Korean officials first to Vladivostock and then to Moscow can be considered a blueprint of what’s to come – although the US officials aren’t certain about this possibility.<\/p>\n
The crux of these talks would focus on chances for Putin to receive ammunition and weapons from Mr Kim to be used in Ukraine, the officials said.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Russia’s ‘General Armageddon’ who vanished after Prigozhin mutiny is ‘pictured’<\/strong><\/p>\n On the other hand, the North Korean leader is likely to want advanced technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines – as well as food aid from Russia.<\/p>\n North Korea may find itself once again on the brink of a famine, which in the 1990s killed millions of people, as Pyongyang is struggling to feed its people even more in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n But Mr Kim is believed to be particularly interested in being able to further arm his army to be ever-ready to strike against the US and South Korea.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Moreover, he is seeking to successfully launch a spy satellite, an achievement Pyongyang deems necessary to monitor the activities of its enemies.<\/p>\n North Korea has already tried and failed two launches this year, and has announced a third one will take place in October.<\/p>\n Mr Kim’s rumoured visit to Russia, which may take place between September 10 and 13 if he attends the Eastern Economic Forum, comes after White House spokesman John F. Kirby warned last week that talks of military cooperation and of an arms deal between Pyongyang and Moscow are “actively advancing”.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n On Monday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu also acknowledged his country is contemplating holding joint military drills with China and North Korea.<\/p>\n Asked about reports he proposed to Mr Kim in July to carry out these joint exercises, he said: “Why not? These are our neighbours. There’s an old Russian saying: You don’t choose your neighbours, and it’s better to live with your neighbours in peace and harmony.”<\/p>\n Mr Shoigu had travelled to North Korea in July to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, a trip which also saw the presence of a Chinese delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/north-korea-4943252.jpg?r=1693861860088\")
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