North Korea’s Kim inspects sanctioned fighter jet plant in Russian Far East

MOSCOW, Russia – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a sanctioned fighter jet plant in Russia on Friday, September 15, as part of a rare visit that the United States and its allies fear could strengthen Russia’s military in Ukraine and bolster Pyongyang’s missile program.

President Vladimir Putin met the 39-year-old North Korean leader for a summit on Wednesday, September 13, where they discussed military matters and deepening cooperation, and where Kim invited Putin to visit North Korea.

Kim visited two aviation facilities in the far eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the Yuri Gagarin Aviation Plant and the Yakovlev plant, both units of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which is sanctioned by the West over the war in Ukraine. The Gagarin plant is also specifically sanctioned by the United States.

Escorted by Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Kim inspected the assembly workshops at the Gagarin plant where the Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter and the Su-57 fighter are made, the Russian government said.

“Kim Jong-un and Denis Manturov inspected the fighter aircraft assembly plant and the final assembly shop of the Su-35 aircraft and the fifth-generation Su-57 aviation complex,” the government said.

“The delegation also inspected the technological capabilities of the plant, which has been modernized and re-equipped – the machining production and a workshop of special coatings,” the government said.

Kim inspected workshops where the fuselage compartments and wing assemblies of Russia’s Sukhoi Superjet 100 are made before watching a demonstration flight of the Su–35.

“We have demonstrated to the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea one of our leading aircraft production facilities,” Manturov said. “We see the potential for cooperation both in the field of aircraft construction and in other industries.”

For the United States and its allies, the burgeoning friendship between Kim and Putin is a concern. Washington has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia, but it is unclear whether any deliveries have been made.

Warning from Washington and Seoul

Both Russia and North Korea have denied those claims, but promised to deepen defence cooperation. During a visit to North Korea in July, Kim showed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu banned ballistic missiles.

The US and its allies are also concerned that the revival of Moscow’s Pyongyang friendship could allow North Korea to gain sensitive technology for its missile program, though Russia has said it abides by all UN sanctions resolutions.

The US State Department said on Wednesday that the Biden administration “won’t hesitate” to impose additional sanctions on Russia and North Korea if they conclude new arms deals.

Senior diplomats and defense officials of South Korea and the United States agreed on Friday that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is a serious violation of UN sanctions and urged Moscow to show responsibility as a Security Council permanent member.

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin told reporters on Friday that the government was considering options for independent sanctions on North Korea and Russia over arms trade concerns.

Russian officials pushed back against the criticism, saying that Washington had no right to lecture Moscow after the United States bolstered allies across the world, including with a visit of a US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine to South Korea in July. – Rappler.com