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To the Stars: Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un Meet at Vostochny Cosmodrome

On September 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed North Korean State Council Chairman Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The North Korean leader paid an official visit to Russia, holding talks with top officials.
Sputnik
Russian President Vladimir Putin together with Chairman of the State Council of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un inspected the launch pad of the Soyuz-2 spacecraft at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
The two leaders visited the assembly and test building and learned about the technical characteristics of launch vehicles. Putin noted that Russia continues to use the Baikonur Cosmodrome along with Vostochny and the northern Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
Kim was interested in the characteristics of the rockets, including the power of the engines. He was told that the rocket's payload capacity to low orbits is nine tons from Vostochny, 7.5 tons from the northern cosmodrome and eight tons from Baikonur.
The DPRK leader is visiting Russia for the first time since 2019 at the invitation of President Putin, he arrived in Russia on his famous armored train. Kim was accompanied on the trip by DPRK Foreign Minister Choi Seong-hee, his sister Kim Yo Jong - the deputy director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers' Party of Korea, and other top officials.
Check out Sputnik's photo gallery to learn more about the historic meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a smile at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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North Korean State Council Chairman Kim Jong Un arrives at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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President Putin gives Chairman Kim a warm handshake as the two leaders meet the first time since 2019, September 13, 2023.

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Putin and Kim look around the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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President Putin and DPRK leader Kim enjoy majestic launch vehicles at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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President Putin and Chairman Kim listen to an employee guiding them who tells about characteristics of rockets at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023. In the foreground, on the left: Yury Borisov, the director general of Roscosmos State Space Corporation.

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The two leaders explore the awe-inspiring facilities of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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Vladimir Putin speaks with Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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President Putin and DPRK leader Kim are fascinated by the facilities at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un listen to an employee guiding them who speaks about the characteristics of rockets at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023. In the foreground, on the left: Yury Borisov, the director general of Roscosmos State Space Corporation.

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DPRK leader Kim Jong Un explores the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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President Putin gives Chairman Kim a warm handshake at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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The flags of North Korea and Russia are flying on the premises of Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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President Putin and Chairman Kim hold talks at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pose for a joint photo during the meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, September 13, 2023.

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