Putin commits to uphold international law in DPRK cooperation, Lukashenko wants to join

Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported the information.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin met with self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on September 15 in Sochi to tell him about the details of negotiations and cooperation with North Korea, the Russian outlet reports.

Putin called nonsense claims that Russia is taking North Korean volunteers for the “special operation”, the report said. He added that Russia is not going to violate anything, but will develop cooperation with the DPRK within the framework of international law.

Instead, Lukashenko offered Putin to develop cooperation with the DPRK "for three", the Russian outlet URA.RU reports.

"I think we can think about cooperation in three ways. North Korea, Russia... I know that the Koreans are very interested in you. I think there will be a piece of work for Belarus there, given the problems that exist," Lukashenko said.

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.

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.

On September 11, the North Korean leader had travelled by train to Vladivostok to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin confirmed Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia "in the coming days".

Oleksandr Kraiev, an expert at the Ukrainian Prism Foreign Policy Council, believes that Russia is preparing to receive weapons and ammunition from the DPRK in exchange for food.

On September 13, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had a meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

On August 18, US President Joe Biden said he is ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "without preconditions" to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

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. 

On the evening of Friday, September 8, at a parade in honor of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the state, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un met with a Chinese delegation before his trip to Russia next week.

On Monday, September 11, it became known that the North Korean leader had traveled by train to Vladivostok to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin confirmed Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia "in the coming days."

On Tuesday morning, September 12, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's armored train arrived in Russia. The DPRK dictator is expected to meet with Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia.

Kim Jong-un and Putin held their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

The United States is concerned about the talks between the Russian Federation and North Korea and promises consequences if defense cooperation deepens.

September 15, South Korea's top diplomat hinted that Seoul may impose sanctions on Russia following the recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.