Kim Jong Un to meet Vladimir Putin

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un reportedly plans to travel to Russia this month to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and further discussions about Pyongyang providing Moscow with artillery shells and antitank missiles to aid its war in Ukraine. In exchange, Kim wants Russian technology for satellites and nuclear submarines — plus some food for his starving country. Officials say both men would attend the Eastern Economic Forum, Sept. 10-13, in Vladivostok.

The notion of these authoritarian leaders joining forces is a concern for Washington and could pose a challenge to the ongoing support the West is providing to Kyiv. The White House has not yet publicly discussed the planned meeting, but a US official has urged North Korea “to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia.”

We’ll be watching to see whether Kim really makes this rare trek outside North Korea and whether he and Putin make progress in striking a deal.