Putin’s Bad Day and Kim’s Good Day: A Tale of Two Summits
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, had a very bad day today. He woke up to the news that his military base in Sevastopol, a city in Crimea that he illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, was attacked by Ukrainian forces. The attack damaged two of his warships and injured 24 of his sailors. It also sparked a huge fire that engulfed the shipyard and sent thick smoke into the sky. The attack was a major blow to Putin’s military and political ambitions in the region, where he has been waging a war against Ukraine since 2014. The attack also increased the pressure on him from the international community, which has condemned his aggression and imposed sanctions on him. He also faced the risk of more sanctions if he went ahead with his planned arms deal with North Korea, which would violate UN resolutions and trigger more isolation.
Putin’s bad day contrasted sharply with the good day he had yesterday, when he met with Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, at a remote space launch site in Russia’s far east. The meeting was a rare and significant development, bringing together two leaders who are increasingly isolated on the world stage. The meeting was seen as a strategic move by both leaders to boost their leverage and influence in the region amid their challenges and isolation. The meeting was also seen as a snub to China, North Korea’s main ally and trading partner, which has been strained by Beijing’s support for the sanctions and its growing rivalry with Moscow. The meeting was expected to focus on relations between the neighboring countries, as well as possible cooperation on space exploration and weapons development.
The meeting between Putin and Kim was Kim’s first visit abroad in more than four years and the first since the Covid-19 pandemic. He arrived in Russia on Tuesday aboard his heavily-armored private train accompanied by party leaders, including a top military official in charge of the country’s ballistic missile programs. During a stop at the border town Khasan, Kim said his trip to Russia was a “clear manifestation” of North Korea “prioritizing the strategic importance” of Moscow-Pyongyang relations. As the two leaders were gearing up for the summit, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into waters off the Korean Peninsula, in what analysts said was a show of force and readiness.
The meeting between Putin and Kim was Kim’s first meeting with Putin since 2019, when they met in Vladivostok and discussed denuclearization and economic cooperation. The meeting came after Kim’s failed summit with former US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam, where they failed to reach an agreement on sanctions relief and nuclear disarmament. Since then, talks between North Korea and the US have stalled, and Kim has vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal and deterrence capabilities.
The contrast between Putin’s bad day today and his good day yesterday shows how unpredictable and volatile the international situation is. It also shows how Putin and Kim are trying to use each other as bargaining chips and allies in their conflicts with other powers. However, their friendship may not last long, as they have different interests and goals that may clash in the future. For example, Putin may not be willing to risk more sanctions and isolation for helping Kim with his nuclear weapons program, while Kim may not be satisfied with Putin’s limited economic assistance and political support. Moreover, both leaders face internal challenges and discontent from their own people, who are suffering from poverty, repression, and corruption.
Therefore, Putin’s bad day today may not be his last one, and Kim’s good day yesterday may not be his best one. The two leaders may find themselves in more trouble and isolation as they continue to pursue their aggressive and provocative policies. They may also find themselves betrayed or abandoned by each other as they seek to protect their own interests and survival. The world should be wary of their actions and intentions, as they may pose serious threats to regional and global peace and security.
