Kim spent two days in Vladivostok while inspecting various facilities in the fields of military, economy, science, education and culture, before bidding farewell at a send-off ceremony at the Artyom station, KCNA said. It wrapped up Kim’s unusually lengthy, week-long trip to Russia, during which he pledged to step up military and economic cooperation with President Vladimir Putin. Kim toured Far Eastern Federal University, where he and Putin held their first talks in 2019, and was briefed by its president on the school’s educational system and future development plan. He also met North Korean students studying science and technology at the university, KCNA said, learning about their lives there and taking a photo together. The rare summit between Kim and Putin has prompted the United States and South Korea to warn against any weapons trade and other military cooperation as Russia presses its invasion of Ukraine and North Korea races to advance its nuclear programmes.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 18, 2023 05:16 UTC