The announcement of Travis King’s release came relatively quickly and surprised some observers who had expected the North to drag out his detention in the hopes of squeezing concessions from Washington at a time of high tensions between the rivals.
Travis King, who was supposed to be on his way to Fort Bliss, Texas, after finishing a prison sentence in South Korea for assault, ran into North Korea while on a civilian tour of the border village of Panmunjom in July.
The meeting was being watched closely by Western countries amid concerns that North Korea may provide Russia with weapons to be used for the Ukraine conflict.
Analysts have speculated that Kim may provide ammunition to Russia in exchange for receiving advanced weapons or technology from Russia.
"Military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is illegal and unjust as it contravenes UN Security Council resolutions and various other international sanctions," said South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Kim Jong Un met Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and held discussions on strengthening the arms cooperation between the militaries of both countries, according to the reports.
Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia has raised Western concerns regarding an arms alliance between him and Putin to aid the Russian President in war against Ukraine. During his visit to Vladivostok, Kim was shown nuclear-capable bombers.
Kim is expected to seek economic aid and military technology, though an arms deal would violate international sanctions that Russia supported in the past.
North Korea may provide Russia will millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet design that will give the latter a major boost in the war against Ukraine, suggest reports.
The midnight parade in the capital, Pyongyang, which was to celebrate North Korea's 75th founding anniversary, came amid reports that Kim would travel to Russia soon to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin focussing on the North Korean arm sales amid Ukraine war.
The vessel is named 'Hero Kim Kun Ok' and is designed to launch tactical nuclear weapons from underwater, as part of efforts for North Korea's nuclear-armed navy.
The official said that the US expects Kim may visit Russia within the month, however, isn’t sure when or where the meeting would take place, but the Pacific port city of Vladivostok may be a possibility as its relatively nearer to North Korea.
The firing of missiles comes two days after the militaries of the US and South Korea wrapped up their 11-day training exercises that North Korea regards as a rehearsal for invasion. Washington and Seoul officials maintain their drills are defensive.
In the latest confrontation, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday after the US reportedly flew a B-1B bomber to the Korean Peninsula during joint exercises with South Korea.
Donald Trump testified that he considered being the president “the most important job in the world”. He testified in April that his company, the Trump Organization, has over USD400 million in cash.
The US reportedly flew a B-1B bomber to the Korean Peninsula on the sidelines of an ongoing annual US-South Korean computer-simulated exercise called “Ulchi Freedom Shield.”
North Korea banned tourists, jetted out diplomats and severely curtailed border traffic and trade after the pandemic began. The lockdown has further worsened the North’s chronic economic difficulties and food insecurity.
North Korea's aerospace agency said it will conduct a third attempt in October after finding what caused a failure.
Kim called the recent flooding a man-made disaster, citing a botched construction project that was supposed to improve drainage in the area.
Kim said he would bolster efforts to build powerful warships and modernize shipboard and underwater weapons systems for the North's navy.
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