Putin and Kim Jong Un meeting in Vladivostok: what will Kremlin ask for?

He expressed his opinion on Espreso TV. 

"First, the transfer of shells to the DPRK for the Wagner PMC has already been recorded. This was noticed by US intelligence. Secondly, the DPRK has an artillery army, meaning that it has a huge number of different artillery systems with calibers that are the same as the Soviet ones. Moreover, the DPRK has a large amount of ammunition designed for tens of thousands of artillery systems," the military expert noted.

Oleh Katkov noted that the Russian Federation may need not only ammunition but also the artillery systems themselves, which are wearing out. That is, the more shots they fire, the more they exhaust their resources. Therefore, the DPRK may also help replace the barrels.

"In my opinion, it is quite threatening to consider the DPRK as an independent source of arms for the Russian Federation. Because the DPRK may well be a hub for the transfer of Chinese weapons, which can also be adapted to the needs of the Russian Federation. The Chinese military-industrial complex can produce weapons in the quantity, even with the markings, that the Russian Federation wants. And there is another aspect: Russia can pay the DPRK with anything for such services or goods. There may be payments in technology, fuel, and so on," Katkov explained.

Some details about cooperation between Russia and the DPRK

Earlier, White House spokesman John Kirby said that talks between Russia and the DPRK on military cooperation were "actively progressing."

In July, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited the DPRK and met with his North Korean counterpart, among others.

In early August, the White House accused Russia of trying to buy munitions from the DPRK.

Oleksandr Musienko, head of the Center for Military Legal Studies, said that Russia has problems with the military and industrial complex, so Moscow is turning to the DPRK and Iran for help. According to him, Ukraine must be prepared for North Korea to supply weapons to Russia.

On August 18, it became known that US President Joe Biden was ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "without preconditions" to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

On August 31, the United States imposed sanctions on two Russian citizens over the development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles for the DPRK.

On September 4, The New York Times reported, citing US and allied officials, that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un plans to visit Russia in September and meet with Vladimir Putin to discuss military cooperation.