Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Saturday showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three Russian strategic aircraft and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles installed on a MiG-31I fighter.
The demonstration took place during the North Korean leader’s visit to Knevichi airport in Primorye, Russia’s Far East, a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry said.
In Knevichi, Kim observed the strategic bombers Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3. The three aircraft are part of the air component of the Russian strategic nuclear force, the same government department reports.
The Russian military also showed Kim the MiG-31I fighter equipped with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
According to Moscow, this is aerial equipment “with no equivalent in the world” that has proven its effectiveness.
Kim and Shoigu also inspected the frigate “Marshal Shaposhchhnikov”, which is located in Vladivostok, another military statement said.
The Russian president and the North Korean leader met on Wednesday in Vostotchny, about eight thousand kilometers east of Moscow.
Kim invited Putin to visit North Korea in the near future, but no agreement has yet been signed between the two countries, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
The United States has said it suspects that Russia wants to buy weapons from Pyongyang for use in the war against Ukraine, while North Korea wants to acquire technologies for its nuclear and missile programs.
Washington has warned Pyongyang that it will face consequences if it contributes to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
Source: DN
