Russia has denied signing agreements with North Korea when their leaders held a summit this week, amid western warnings over possible arms and satellite technology deals, as Ukraine liberated another devastated village near the occupied eastern city of Bakhmut.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un toured an aviation factory on Friday in Komsomolsk-na-Amur in Russia’s Far East, where he was shown war planes and civilian passenger aircraft and watched a demonstration of an Su-35 fighter jet.
“We have shown one of our leading aircraft plants to the leader of [North Korea]. We are seeing potential for co-operation in aircraft-making and other industries, which is particularly relevant for achieving our countries’ aim of attaining technological sovereignty,” said Russian deputy prime minister Denis Manturov, who accompanied Mr Kim.
Russian president Vladimir Putin met Mr Kim on Wednesday at the Vostochny cosmodrome, where they discussed possible joint projects in a range of fields, including satellite technology, but did not announce any agreements. Mr Kim also pledged full support for Moscow in its war in Ukraine and against western “imperialism”.
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The United States and South Korea have warned that any technology transfers could breach United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang – which Moscow has supported – over its nuclear and missile programmes. The delivery of arms to Russia for use in Ukraine could also lead to more western sanctions being piled on to Mr Kim’s secretive and isolated regime.
[ Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin exchange rifles as giftsOpens in new window ]
“No agreements were signed on this issue or on other issues and there were no such plans,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked if a weapons deal had been agreed.
Mr Putin insisted when meeting Mr Kim that Russia would respect “limitations” on co-operation with North Korea, but Kyiv believes arms are already flowing from Pyongyang to Moscow.
“It was already a month and a half ago that everything was agreed and shipments began from North Korea,” said Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence.
After meeting US officials in Seoul on Friday, South Korean deputy foreign minister Chang Ho-jin said: “We agreed to work together to ensure there is a price to pay for the grave violation of [United Nations] Security Council resolutions.”
Sasha Baker, the US acting undersecretary of defence for policy, said Washington would “try to identify and expose and counter Russian attempts to acquire military equipment ... to prosecute their illegal war on Ukraine”.
Ukraine said its military had liberated the village of Andriivka, in its latest advance to the south of occupied Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region.
“The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade has liberated the village of Andriivka. The 72nd Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Russian Federation is in tatters,” the Ukrainian unit said on social media.
“As a result of a lightning-fast operation, the Russian garrison in Andriivka was surrounded, cut off from the main forces and destroyed ... As of now, the fighting continues, our units continue to consolidate their new positions,” the brigade added.
“The capture and holding of Andriivka is our way to a breakthrough on the right flank of Bakhmut, and the key to the success of all further offensives ... We pay a high price for the results of these battles. And the blood of each of our fighters will be repaid only with blood.”
