North Korea Eyes Russia’s Aviation Power and Strategic Ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has shown keen interest in Russia’s advancing aviation sector and its capacity for modern production, according to the Korean Central News Agency. He expressed admiration for the scale and sophistication of the Russian aircraft industry and for the persistent drive shown by its enterprises to reach new milestones. Kim Jong-un conveyed a genuine wish that the sector continues to grow, sustaining high production momentum in the years ahead. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Kim Jong-un’s briefing on the launch phases of space rockets into orbit, demonstrated at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. On September 13, the leaders met at the spaceport, with arrangements that included both direct dialogue and participation from delegations from the two nations. After nearly five hours of discussions, the leaders shared a meal featuring Kamchatka crab dumplings and exchanged toasts. In a separate report from North Korea, it was noted that the entry of a US submarine into South Korean waters had been described as a condition for nuclear weapons use, a claim that underscores the region’s ongoing strategic tensions.