Kim Jong Un Meets With Vladimir Putin, Pledges ‘Unconditional Support’

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss potential arms sales and other cooperation between their largely isolated countries.

The Details: The pair toured the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia, and Putin offered North Korea technological assistance in launching a satellite, which it had tried and failed at twice this year. Translations of the leaders’ statements varied, but Kim reportedly pledged his country’s full support for Russia and its purported “sacred fight” against “imperialism” and “hegemonic forces.”

For Context: The visit was Kim’s first international trip since North Korea shut its borders in 2020. A year and a half into its invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Russia is seeking to replenish its diminished ammunition supplies. In July, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang to discuss buying munitions.

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was common across the mainstream news media, often describing the meeting as “rare.” Some coverage took more sensational angles; the New York Post (Lean Right bias) highlighted speculation about Putin’s health, and the Daily Beast (Left bias) said the “lovefest” had a “grim endgame.”