No agreements signed during Kim visit: Russia

The Kremlin said on Friday that no agreements had been signed during North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s ongoing visit to Russia, amid Western concern that the two isolated countries could be preparing an arms deal.Kim is on a rare trip out of his reclusive country in the Russian Far East, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week.Moscow is believed to be interested in buying North Korean ammunition to continue fighting in Ukraine, while Pyongyang wants Russia’s help to develop its missile programme.Western countries have warned Russia and North Korea against striking an arms deal, which would defy sanctions on Pyongyang.After meeting Kim on Wednes­day, Putin said he saw “possibilities” for military cooperation.

As part of his extended tour of the Russian Far East, Kim visited a Russian military aviation factory Friday in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a key Russian engineering hub, Moscow said.He saw the production of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35 and Su-57 fighter aircraft and watched a demonstration flight of an Su-35. “We see the potential for cooperation both in the field of aircraft manufacturing and in other industries,” said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov after accompanying Kim around the factories.“This is especially important for achieving the tasks facing our countries to achieve technological sovereignty,” said Manturov, also the trade and industry minister.Russia has said that Kim will continue his visit for several more days, without giving a specific time frame.