Putin Holds Talks with Kim Jong Un in Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Beijing. During the talks, the Russian leader highlighted the role of North Korean forces in the liberation of the Kursk region. Putin emphasized that the participation of the DPRK’s armed forces in the operation was initiated by Kim Jong Un and was marked by courage and heroism. He stated that Russia would not forget the assistance provided and values North Korea’s contribution.

For his part, Kim Jong Un expressed readiness to continue supporting Russia. He described this as the DPRK’s fraternal duty and confirmed that his country considers cooperation with Russia a priority. According to the North Korean leader, participation in joint actions strengthens bilateral relations and demonstrates the allied nature of their partnership.

A distinctive feature of the talks was that the leaders communicated without interpreters. Putin and Kim Jong Un used English to exchange views directly. This format allowed for a more informal dialogue and faster discussion of issues.

Before the main meeting, the Russian and North Korean leaders also had a private conversation in a limousine. This format of informal negotiations has been dubbed “limousine diplomacy.” For Putin, this was already the third such case. Previously, similar talks in a car took place with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The talks in Beijing further confirmed the development of Russia–North Korea relations. Both sides expressed readiness to strengthen military and political cooperation, as well as to support each other on international issues. The meeting highlighted the allied nature of the interaction between the two states and gave new impetus to their bilateral dialogue.