Vladimir Putin’s dangerous bromance with Kim Jong Un
Russia’s dictator visits Pyongyang and signs a new strategic pact
KIM JONG UN has a new best friend. Out is Donald Trump, who exchanged saccharine letters but spurned him at a summit in Hanoi in 2019. In is Vladimir Putin, who has courted Mr Kim for weapons to fuel his war in Ukraine. Mr Kim has made two trips to Russia’s Far East to meet Mr Putin since 2019. On June 19th Mr Putin arrived in Pyongyang for his first visit since 2000, the year he made his debut as president. Though he landed at close to 3am local time, Mr Kim was waiting on a red carpet on the tarmac to meet him. The two leaders later signed a strategic partnership agreement, promising to come to each other’s aid when facing aggression.
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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Marriage of convenience”
From the June 22nd 2024 edition
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