AFP
North Korean chief Kim Jong Un inspected a sanctioned fighter jet plant in Russia on Friday as a part of a uncommon go to that the US and its allies worry might strengthen Russia’s army in Ukraine and bolster Pyongyang’s missile programme.
President Vladimir Putin met the 39-year-old North Korean chief for a summit on Wednesday at which they mentioned army issues and deepening cooperation, and at which Kim invited Putin to go to North Korea.
Kim visited two aviation services within the far japanese metropolis of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the Yuri Gagarin Aviation Plant and the Yakovlev plant, each items of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which is sanctioned by the West over the conflict in Ukraine. The Gagarin plant can be particularly sanctioned by the United States.
Escorted by Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Kim inspected the meeting workshops on the Gagarin plant the place the Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter and the Su-57 fighter are made, the Russian authorities mentioned.
“Kim Jong Un and Denis Manturov inspected the fighter aircraft assembly plant and the final assembly shop of the Su-35 aircraft and the fifth-generation Su-57 aviation complex,” the federal government mentioned.
“The delegation also inspected the technological capabilities of the plant, which has been modernised and re-equipped – the machining production and a workshop of special coatings,” the federal government mentioned.
Kim inspected workshops the place the fuselage compartments and wing assemblies of Russia’s Sukhoi Superjet 100 are made earlier than watching an indication flight of the Su–35.
“We have demonstrated to the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea one of our leading aircraft production facilities,” Manturov mentioned. “We see the potential for cooperation both in the field of aircraft construction and in other industries.”
For the US and its allies, the burgeoning friendship between Kim and Putin is a priority. Washington has accused North Korea of offering arms to Russia, however it’s unclear whether or not any deliveries have been made.
