According to data gathered by the US, Kim Jong Un, the top leader of totalitarian North Korea, intends to continue discussions with the Kremlin over a prospective arms sale, which might involve a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Russia.
Arms talks between North Korea and Russia "are actively advancing," according to National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson in a statement to The Epoch Times.
Last month, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea and attempted to "convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia," according to Ms. Watson.
“We have information that Kim Jong-Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” she said, without specifying when such a meeting would take place.
According to the New York Times, citing anonymous US and ally sources, Mr. Kim might meet Mr. Putin as soon as next week.
The Kremlin refused to comment on the potential meeting, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling reporters on Tuesday, "There's nothing to say."
Shoigu stated that any face-to-face meeting between North Korea and Russia will be thoroughly monitored. "Arms trade and related cooperation with North Korea are violations of Security Council resolutions," South Korean foreign ministry spokeswoman Lim Soo-suk said at a press conference on Tuesday, according to translation.
Ms. Watson stated that the US is urging North Korea to "cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments Pyongyang has made not to provide or sell arms to Russia."
