Unannounced Russian Military Plane Flies To Pyongyang
Russian Plane Flies To North Korea Following Kim's Moscow Visit
Overt Operator
September 27, 2023
A Russian military plane flew directly from Moscow to the North Korean capital Pyongyang on Tuesday, September 26, according to flight tracker data, in an unannounced trip that follows Kim Jong Un's recent visit to Russia, media reports explained.
The September flight was the second-time in recent weeks that a Russian plane was known to enter North Korea unannounced. A Ilyushin Il-62 VIP passenger plane with tail number RA-86559 had reportedly made another unannounced trip to Pyongyang for around 36 hours in early August, days after Russian defense chief Sergei Shoigu's visit to the North Korean capital.
The plane's flight follows ongoing talks between the two countries on issues such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, as well as economic and security cooperation.
The flight comes at a time when the two countries have been strengthening their ties. Kim Jong Un recently visited Russia in April and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, where the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest.
It is not clear who was on board the plane or what the purpose of the flight was. However, the flight was likely related to diplomatic and security matters between the two countries.
The state visit between the Russian leader and North Korea's Kim Jong Un's was the North Korean supreme leader's first trip outside North Korea since he assumed power in 2011. This novel event was seen as a sign of the two countries' growing cooperation, media reports explained.
The state visit came as North Korea has been seeking to strengthen ties with Russia amid strained relations with the United States. The two countries have been locked in a nuclear stand-off since the collapse of denuclearization talks in 2019.
Meanwhile, the United States and North Korea have yet to resume talks and the two sides remain at odds over the denuclearization process and economic sanctions on Pyongyang.
Russia has been supportive of North Korea and has criticized US policy towards Pyongyang. Moscow has also been keen to increase its influence in the region and has sought to strengthen economic ties with North Korea.
The flight of the Russian military plane to North Korea is seen as a sign of the two countries' deepening relations and comes amid an uncertain diplomatic situation on the Korean Peninsula.