Now to a story we're watching pretty closely for you.
This Monday, Moscow and Pyongyang have both confirmed that Kim
Jongun is to visit Russia on the invitation of Vladimir
Putin.
According to South Korean media,
Kim is already on route to Russia now.
Sources there say he left Pyongyang by train on Sunday
evening,
and he is believed to be headed to the Russian
city of Vladivostok,
where he could meet Putin as early as tomorrow.
Well, to discuss Kim Jong UN's trip.
I'm very pleased now to be joined on the line
by Kayla Orter.
She's a career analyst at the Wilson Center for Public
Policy.
Thanks very much indeed for talking to us on front
24.
Thank you for having me.
Now, if confirmed, this will be Kim's first trip out
of North Korea since the COVID pandemic.
How significant do you think it is that he's choosing
to travel now?
Very significant actually. I think we can look at both
domestic as well as international reasons for why this is
very timely and important.
As you mentioned, this is his first trip in almost
four years.
It also comes on just the heels of North Korea's
very recent
75th anniversary of the founding of the country.
So domestically, there's a lot of energy moving forward and
what's happening in the future of the country in North
Korea as well as internationally,
we just saw the trilateral summit between United States,
South Korea and Japan, as well as US,
South Korea military exercises kicking off in late August.
So there's a lot of tension in the region and
there's a lot of opportunity perhaps
for to meet with Putin to discuss their relationship.
And beyond the fact that Kim Jong Un is going
to Russia and that,
and that's on the invitation of the Russian President,
we don't have many details right now from the government
in Pyongyang nor the government in Moscow.
So is it your understanding that Kim will meet
Putin? And if so, will that be in the city
of Vladivostok,
as you had mentioned? We're still kind of tracking this
and seeing where this will move forward.
However, if he is making the journey all the way
to Vladivostok,
the understanding is that there will be a meeting,
the reports have said as early as tomorrow morning.
However, we have to see how this will pan out
still,
and there is talk, isn't there over possible arms deal
that would aid Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine?
That invasion began in March of last year.
So why do you think the North Korean leadership
is apparently interested in such a deal right now?
I think you hit it on the nail on the
head here.
So why currently are they engaging?
And this really comes, I think,
in the face of a stronger US,
South Korea and Japan trilateral relationship.
I think North Korea recognizes its isolation in the region
and as tensions continue to rise between the US and
China,
they may be looking for allied ship beyond the Indo
Pacific.
So this really comes at a time of let's say
convenience,
an exchange of convenience and this is looking into,
you know what can the North Korean leadership provide and
relationship to Russia that will help guaranteed potential future support
from Russia and international community as well as visa vie
the US and South Korea.
So it comes at a time I think of North
Korea recognizing as US and South Korean partnership strengthens that
they will be looking for partnerships outside of the Pacific.
And if this arms deal is confirmed,
what is North Korea likely to get in exchange?
So beyond just the political allies ship that is possible
in this space,
they're definitely looking into opportunities to engage for food security
as well as energy security.
As has been mentioned during the pandemic,
the North Korean leadership shut down the borders quite strongly
even toward relationships in China as well.
And so there is reports coming from the country on
food and security,
as well as, say, for example,
the repercussions from droughts and floods that are seasonal in
North Korea.
So we'll be looking for areas of cooperation in exchange
for food as well as energy and fuel for the
country.
Just one final question, and this might seem like a
slightly strange one,
but clearly it's more efficient to head to Russia by
plane.
Why is Kim Jong Un apparently taking the train?
So we have seen this in his past international visits
as well.
There is some security to be gained from traveling in
a very heavily armored train of the reports has said
that it is bulletproof.
I think that there's concern from the North Korean leader
what would happen if there is attempts on his life
and the idea is is to secure the route more
safely for his departure from Pyongyang into Vladivostok.
And so while it it's not intuitive for us here,
there is a insecurity from North Korea that this needs
to be addressed more firmly and the train seems to
be the route he prefers to take over the years.
Kayla Orter from the Wilson Centre for Public Policy talking
to us from Washington,
DC. Thank you very much indeed for your analysis on
that story.
Thank you for having me.