Russia and North Korea to Cooperate in Space, Military, Stand Together Against 'Imperialism'

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not discuss any risks of a nuclear war during their meeting on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Commenting on military-technical cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia complies with international obligations and uses opportunities for cooperation within the framework of these rules.

"There are certain restrictions. Russia complies with all these restrictions. But there are things that we, of course, can talk about, we discuss, we think about it. And here too, there are prospects. Russia is a self-sufficient country. But within the framework of the current rules, we also have opportunities, which we also pay attention to and discuss them," Putin told the media.

Putin added that he discussed with Kim Jong Un the cooperation within agricultural industry.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un plans to go to the Russian city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur and visit factories there, where civilian and military equipment is made, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"The chairman [Kim Jong Un] has a big agenda ahead. He is flying from here to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, he will visit factories where aviation equipment is produced, both civilian and military," Putin said on air of the Rossiya 1 broadcaster.

According to Putin, the North Korean leader also plans to visit Vladivostok to see the capabilities of Russia’s Pacific Fleet.

Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister, has arrived in Russia along with the North Korean leader. She did not attend the meeting with Vladimir Putin, but she was seen at the reception and at the entrance to the meeting room at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a broader format have finished, with the two leaders now having one-on-one negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik on Wednesday.

When asked whether the meeting between the leaders with participation of delegations has already finished, Peskov gave an affirmative answer.

"Yes, it is taking place," the spokesman stated, answering the question on whether a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Kim has started.

He added that Russia will build relations with North Korea on mutually beneficial basis despite external factors.

"The truth, first of all, is that North Korea is our close neighbor. And despite any 'comments' or 'cries' from the outside, we will build relationships with our neighbors in a way that is beneficial to us and beneficial to our neighbors," Dmitry Peskov told the media.

Spokesman also stressed that Russia-North Korea relations concern only two sovereign countries and should be no matter of concern for third countries.

Peskov said that cooperation between Russia, North Korea are maintained for good of people of two countries and are not aimed against anyone adding that full range of relations implies military-technical cooperation and exchange of views on security.

Russia maintains its position in the UN on sanctions against North Korea, but this is not and will not be an obstacle to the development of bilateral relations, Kremlin spokesman added.

North Korea supports and has always supported the decisions of President Putin and the Russian government, Kim Jong Un stated.

Russia is proud of how the country's space industry is developing, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday.

The president noted that the meeting is taking place at a special time, as the two countries mark 75 years of establishing diplomatic relations and North Korea has recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding, reminding that Russia wast the first to recognize the Asian state.

"We, of course, need to talk about economic cooperation, humanitarian issues, and the situation in the region," Putin added.

The North Korean leader thanked the Russian president for the invitation to Russia, adding that the visit is taking place "at a very important period."

Kim also expressed confidence that that the meeting will raise bilateral relations between Moscow and Pyongyang to a new level. He added that North Korea would always be together with Russia in the fight against "imperialism."

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have started talks with the participation of delegations at Russia's Vostochny spaceport, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

The leaders are taking part in talks in a wide format and could later have a one-on-one conversation.