North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may soon travel to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discuss a possible arms deal, a news report said Monday.
The New York Times reported that Kim may travel to Vladivostok next week to meet with Putin.
"In a rare foray from his country, Mr. Kim would travel from Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, probably by armored train, to Vladivostok, on the Pacific Coast of Russia, where he would meet with Mr. Putin," said the report, quoting unidentified "American and allied officials."
"Both leaders would be on the campus of Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum, which is scheduled to run Sept. 10 to 13," it added.
The White House National Security Council (NSC) declined to confirm the report when asked, but said Kim may be expecting high-level dialogue in Russia.
"As we have warned publicly, arms negotiations between Russia and the DPRK are actively advancing," NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson told Yonhap News Agency, citing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's trip to Pyongyang in July that she said sought to "convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia."
"We have information that Kim Jong-un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia," the NSC spokesperson added.
John Kirby, NSC coordinator for strategic communications, earlier warned that Pyongyang may be considering providing additional weapons and military equipment to Russia for use in the latter's ongoing war in Ukraine, also noting that the leaders of North Korea and Russia may have discussed such deals in letters they have exchanged since Shoigu's trip to Pyongyang.
A state department spokesperson said a second group of Russian officials had traveled to North Korea following Shoigu's visit there for "follow-on discussions about potential arms deals."
"Any arms deal between the DPRK and Russia would directly violate a number of U.N. Security Council resolutions," the state department spokesperson told Yonhap in an email.
"We urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia. And we are taking action directly by exposing and sanctioning individuals and entities working to facilitate arms deals between Russia and the DPRK," the official added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The Russian defense minister was earlier reported to have said that Russia and North Korea are considering holding a joint military exercise with China.
The New York Times report said a delegation of some 20 North Korean officials, "including some who oversee security protocols for the leadership," traveled to Vladivostok in late August, indicating an upcoming trip by the North Korean leader.
"One potential stop for Mr. Kim after Vladivostok, an official said, is Vostochny Cosmodrome, a space launch center," said the report, noting North Korea may be seeking to secure advanced technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines from Russia in exchange of its weapons.
Pyongyang unsuccessfully fired two space launch vehicles each carrying a military reconnaissance satellite in late May and August. North Korea says it will attempt another launch in October.
Source: Yonhap News Agency