© Reuters. North Korean chief Kim Jong Un departs Pyongyang, North Korea, to go to Russia, September 10, 2023, on this picture launched by North Korea’s Korean Central Information Company on September 12, 2023. KCNA by way of REUTERS
By Hyonhee Shin
SEOUL (Reuters) – Prime navy commanders, arms trade officers and diplomats accompanied North Korean chief Kim Jong Un on his journey to Russia, hinting at a doubtlessly defence-heavy agenda for conferences with President Vladimir Putin.
North Korea didn’t title the members of the delegation, however analysts recognized a number of key figures who seem like accompanying Kim in images launched by state media on Tuesday.
DEFENCE LEADERS
Ri Pyong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Staff’ Celebration’s highly effective Central Army Fee and marshal of the military, the nation’s prime navy rank, was seen waving alongside Kim aboard the prepare. Overseeing North Korea’s defence trade together with its nuclear and missile programmes, Ri travelled to Russia with Kim’s late father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011.
Amongst different delegates have been Marshal Pak Jong Chon, new head of the occasion’s navy political management; Pak Thae Track, a celebration secretary and chairman of a nationwide area science and know-how committee concerned in a spy satellite tv for pc program; and Jo Chun Ryong, director of the Munitions Business Division, who assisted Kim throughout his latest visits to a munitions manufacturing facility and missile plant.
Michael Madden, a North Korea management knowledgeable on the Washington-based Stimson Heart, mentioned the contributors counsel Kim and Putin would primarily concentrate on defence and safety cooperation, together with a doable settlement for munitions purchases led by Jo.
Defence Minister Kang Solar Nam can be more likely to have gone on the journey to Russia, Madden mentioned, although his face was not clearly recognized within the images.
POWER PLAYERS
International Minister Choe Son Hui additionally shook arms with different officers in a receiving line on the prepare station.
A longtime nuclear negotiator and seasoned diplomat, Choe was instrumental throughout Kim’s summits with former U.S. President Donald Trump, and promoted to the present place final yr after a quick demotion following their failed 2019 summit in Vietnam.
Kim’s highly effective sister and a senior occasion official, Kim Yo Jong, was seen standing beside the prepare, although it was unclear whether or not she boarded.
She has performed a high-profile function in supporting her brother’s previous summits.
ECONOMIC OFFICIALS
Some officers dealing with financial affairs seem like accompanying Kim, elevating the chance that he and Putin would possibly talk about financial cooperation and meals help.
They embody O Su Yong, a celebration secretary and director of the financial system division; Pak Hun, vice premier of the cupboard answerable for development; and Han Kwang Sang, chief of the occasion’s mild trade division.
An official at Seoul’s Unification Ministry in command of inter-Korean affairs mentioned Kim and Putin may discover methods to return North Korean labourers to Russia, banned below the U.N. Safety Council sanctions.
