Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly planning to visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks, according to a report by the Vedomosti newspaper, citing a diplomatic source. The report states that the visit to North Korea is already being “actively prepared,” as confirmed by Alexander Matsegora, the Russian ambassador to the reclusive country. Putin’s last visit to North Korea was in 2000, during the first year of his presidency.
The Kremlin has not yet confirmed the dates of the planned visits, but the report suggests that Putin could visit Vietnam as early as June, most likely immediately after his trip to North Korea. This development comes at a time when Russia has been strengthening its ties with countries seen as hostile to the United States, such as North Korea and Iran, since the start of the war in Ukraine. The potential visit to North Korea holds significant strategic implications. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia last September for talks with Putin, during which he toured the Vostochny space launch center in the Russian Far East. At the time, Putin promised to help North Korea build satellites, underscoring the two countries’ efforts to deepen their partnership.
The Vedomosti report suggests that Putin and Kim may discuss the possibility of Russia bringing in migrant workers from North Korea to address the acute labor shortages the country is facing due to the Ukraine war. Hundreds of thousands of Russian men have either gone to fight or fled abroad to avoid being mobilized, leaving the country with a significant labor shortage.
The planned visit to Vietnam also holds strategic value for Russia. Vedomosti quoted Russia’s trade representative in Vietnam as saying last month that the most pressing trade issue between the two countries was banking support for settling payments, indicating the importance of economic cooperation between the two nations.
The timing of these planned visits is particularly noteworthy, as they come at a time when Russia’s relations with the West have deteriorated significantly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. By strengthening ties with countries like North Korea and Vietnam, Russia is seeking to diversify its diplomatic and economic partnerships, reducing its reliance on Western countries and potentially finding new avenues for trade and investment.
The United States and its allies have expressed concern over Russia’s growing relations with countries seen as hostile to their interests. In January, the United States and Ukraine accused Russia of firing North Korean-supplied short-range ballistic missiles at Ukraine, though Russia declined to confirm or deny these allegations. As Putin prepares to embark on these diplomatic visits, the international community will be closely watching the potential outcomes and the implications for the evolving geopolitical landscape. The strengthening of Russia’s ties with North Korea and Vietnam could have far-reaching consequences, both in terms of regional dynamics and the broader global power balance.
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