Kim Jong Un stops to see a fighter jet factory as Russia and North Korea are warned off arms deals
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stopped in a far eastern Russian city Friday to see a factory that builds the country's most advanced fighter jets on his extended trip that hints at his interest in sophisticated weaponry, as the U.S. and others warned Moscow and Pyongyang against making banned weapons transfer deals.
Kim's visits to Russian weapons and technology sites and meetings with President Vladimir Putin have raised speculation he will supply ammunition to Russia for its war efforts in Ukraine in exchange for receiving advanced weapons or technology from Russia as the two nations deepen their ties while both are increasingly isolated and sanctioned in separate confrontations with the West.
Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti published video showing Kim's armored train pulling into a station in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Kim's convoy sweeping out of the station shortly afterward.
TASS news agency said Kim and local Russian officials were headed for a plant that produces Su-35 and Su-57 fighter jets.
Kim is to travel next to Vladivostok to view Russia's Pacific fleet, a university and other facilities, Putin told Russian media after his summit with Kim.
Experts say in return for helping Putin replenish war supplies, Kim would seek Russian help to modernize his air force and navy, which are inferior to those of rival South Korea while Kim has devoted much of his own resources to his nuclear weapons program.
The summit between Kim and Putin this week took place at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia's most important domestic launch center. North Korea has struggled to put into space an operational spy satellite to monitor U.S.
