Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin Meet at Russian Spaceport, Raising Concerns of Potential Arms Deal

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met Wednesday at a Russian spaceport, sparking Western concerns that Kim may provide military support for Putin’s war in Ukraine.

The two leaders met at the entrance to a launch vehicle assembly building, where Putin said he was “happy to see” Kim and the North Korean leader thanked his host for having invited him to visit Russia “despite being busy.”

The meeting comes amid international concerns that the two leaders may be discussing a potential arms deal that could fuel Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine. Video posted by Russian state media showed the two leaders smiling and shaking hands as Kim arrived at the Vostochny spaceport in Russia’s far eastern Amur region.

The meeting also comes after South Korea’s military reported that North Korea had fired at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern seas. It is unclear whether the missile launch was related to Kim’s visit to Russia.

The meeting between Kim and Putin has raised questions about the potential for military cooperation between the two countries. It is unclear what was discussed during the meeting, but it is likely that Putin’s need for weapons prompted the meeting.