During President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, an unusual incident unfolded involving the Russian delegation and North Korean protocol. Upon their arrival at the negotiation room, Russian ministers were instructed to leave by a North Korean official who appeared visibly displeased that they had entered preceding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The incident gained public attention as it occurred during the live broadcast of Putin’s visit by North Korean state media. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was the first to enter the room, taking a seat at the negotiation table and audibly expressing frustration over his attire, which had apparently become soiled. Subsequently, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev joined him at the table, followed by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, and Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos.
As the Russian officials took their seats, an off-screen North Korean official issued a firm directive: "Stop." The confusion among the Russian delegation was evident when one of their representatives queried, "Why did we come in, then?" The North Korean official clarified, "No, we have a protocol. We invite you to the table. Our leaders will join us shortly," in Russian. This prompted a response from the Russians highlighting the miscommunication: "You should have warned us right away. First, you tell us to run…"
The live broadcast was abruptly cut, transitioning to footage of the now-empty conference room where the bilateral talks between Putin and Kim were to take place later.
Following these preliminary discussions, Russia and North Korea signed a strategic treaty characterized by a mutual defense clause, a move President Putin hailed as a significant "breakthrough." The treaty opens the door for potential military-technical cooperation between the two nations, which Putin did not rule out, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reciprocated with high praise for President Putin, referring to him as the "dearest friend of the Korean people." Kim expressed North Korea’s full support and solidarity with the Russian government, particularly concerning the war in Ukraine, which has drawn numerous UN sanctions against Moscow.
In return, Putin expressed gratitude towards Kim for North Korea’s steadfast support, which he described as "consistent and unwavering." He also took the opportunity to call for a review of the UN sanctions regime that prohibits the supply and purchase of weapons to and from Pyongyang, a regime that has been in place since 2006 due to North Korea’s prohibited weapons programs.
AFP contributed reporting.
