During the talks that took place between them on Wednesday, September 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Jong Un, discussed cooperation in the field of space.
In the midst of the talks, the possibility of sending a North Korean astronaut into space was discussed.
The Republic of South Africa intends to send two astronauts to the International Space Station
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with reporters on board the plane: “We discussed this issue and said that it is possible to prepare and send a North Korean astronaut into space if there is a desire to do so on the North Korean side.” According to Peskov, the two sides also discussed ways of cooperation in the field of medicine and industry. In addition, they exchanged views on the international agenda, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula
It is noteworthy that Belarusian astronaut Marina Vasilevskaya is currently receiving a training course at the Russian Gagarin Center for Astronaut Training. It will be sent to the International Space Station in March 2024 aboard the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft.
Moscow : Putin and Kim exchange gifts
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanged gifts during Kim's visit to Russia yesterday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian president gave his North Korean counterpart a glove from a space suit that was in space and a Russian rifle.
Putin comments on the results of his meeting with Kim Jong Un and reveals the places that the Korean leader will visit
He continued: "The two sides exchanged gifts, and we prefer not to announce it too much, but in fact President Putin presented the Korean leader with a glove from a space suit that Russian astronauts used several times, and a distinctive short Russian rifle."
Peskov added that Putin, in turn, received a carbine made by North Korean craftsmen, and other gifts that he did not disclose.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Wednesday for the first time since 2019 aboard his famous armored train.
He held talks with President Putin that lasted about 4 hours. The two leaders also visited the Vostochny space airport and held a working lunch.
Moscow expels the first and second secretaries of the American embassy
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it had summoned the US ambassador to Moscow and notified her that Russia had declared two US embassy employees as persona non grata.
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Russian security reveals details of the case of an informant for the American embassy in Moscow
The ministry said: “We announced diplomatic opposition to the US Ambassador to Moscow, Lynn Tracy, who was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on September 14, by submitting an official memorandum to her regarding the incompatibility of the actions of the First Secretary of the US Embassy, J. Selin, and the Second Secretary of the Embassy.” , Dr. Bernstein, with diplomatic status.”
She pointed out that "diplomats must leave Russian territory within 7 days as persona non grata."
The ministry added that these two diplomats were in contact with the American informant and former employee of the American Consulate, Robert Shonov .
It continued: "The two aforementioned individuals carried out illegal activities and maintained contact with the Russian citizen, R. Shunov, who is accused of spying for a foreign country, and who, in exchange for financial compensation, was assigned tasks aimed at harming Russian national security."
She stressed that Russia expects the United States to draw correct conclusions after the expulsion of two of its diplomats and refrain from taking confrontational steps, and that the illegal activities carried out by the American embassy in Moscow are unacceptable and will be suppressed.
The Russian Federal Security Service said at the end of last August that the former employee of the American Consulate in the Russian city of Vladivostok, Robert Shonov, had requested from Selin and Bernstein to collect information about the conduct of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine and the mobilization process in Russia.