Bromance at the Vostochny Cosmodrome: when Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin meet
The meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place at the Vostochny cosmodrome, unleashed media passions. The two men met in this emblematic place of the Russian space conquest to discuss cooperation and strengthen their bonds of friendship.
Located in the Amur region, in the heart of Siberia, the Vostotchny cosmodrome was chosen as the setting for this meeting to symbolize Russian technological independence and show what Russia can offer North Korea. Indeed, Vostochny is a flagship space base in the Russian program which aims to ensure the country’s autonomy in the space domain.
For many years, Russia has launched its rockets from the Baikonur cosmodrome, located in Kazakhstan. However, with the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian space ambitions were undermined by dependence on a country that had become independent. This is why Vladimir Putin ordered the construction of Vostochny in 2007, in order to ensure Russia’s technological sovereignty in space.
The meeting between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny cosmodrome is therefore highly symbolic. It highlights Russia’s effort to develop this new space base and shows the dynamism of cooperation between the two countries. In addition, this meeting on a site dedicated to space exploration refers to Kim Jong-un’s recent passion for satellites, which he wishes to use to counter the hostile actions of Western countries.
Beyond the symbolism, it remains to be seen what agreements were reached during this meeting. Details of the discussions have not yet been disclosed, but it is very likely that technological and scientific cooperation agreements were discussed. Russia has advanced space expertise and can offer valuable assistance to North Korea.
In conclusion, the meeting between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny cosmodrome is a high-profile event that highlights cooperation between Russia and North Korea in the space field. This meeting symbolizes Russian technological independence and suggests that Russia can provide support and expertise to North Korea.