Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in North Korea today to meet with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, as the two seek to strengthen and expand their relationship. The two-day visit marks Putin's first trip to North Korea in 24 years and comes after he hosted Kim in the Russian Far East last year.
US and South Korean officials believe North Korea has sold Soviet-era artillery, rockets, and other military equipment to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine—now in its 27th month—since the first year of the conflict. The sales reportedly include as many as 10,000 shipping containers holding nearly 5 million artillery shells. Both countries have denied the accusations. In exchange, Russia is believed to have provided economic aid to North Korea, whose economy has contracted every year since 2020, with a gross domestic product per capita of around $1K (see 101).
Separately, Russia's espionage trial against jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is set to begin June 26 and will be closed to the public.
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