Kim Jong Un Expected To Meet With Putin For Weapons Talks: Reports

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may soon meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for negotiations on weapons, according to multiple reports on Monday.

Senior administration officials told The Washington Post that Kim plans to make a rare trip out of North Korea to meet with Putin later this month.

The New York Times, citing American and allied officials, reported that Kim would travel from North Korea’s capital of Pyongyang to the Russian port city of Vladivostok — probably by armored train. The duo previously met in the same city, which is not far from North Korea’s border with Russia, in 2019.

With this new round of talks, Putin aims to secure more weapons for its war in Ukraine, such as artillery shells and anti-tank missiles, while Kim wants access to Russia’s advanced technology on nuclear submarines and satellites as well as food assistance for his starving country of roughly 26 million people, officials told the New York Times. Kim could also make other stops, including at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center and even Moscow.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang in July and Kim showed off his nation’s banned ballistic missiles. That high-profile trip was reportedly followed by delegations from North Korea and Russia visiting the other country, possibly setting the stage for a new meeting between their leaders.

The White House revealed last week that the United States had intelligence showing that Kim and Putin have exchanged letters. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also told reporters that information showed negotiations were “actively advancing” as Russia seeks munitions from North Korea in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“We have information that Kim Jong-Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, according to a CNN report on Monday.

“We urge [North Korea] to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia,” Watson also said.

The Biden administration has sought to deter weapons negotiations between Russia and North Korea with volleys of sanctions. Previous intelligence about possible arms transactions that made the media rounds last year led both nations to issue denials.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has approved more than $110 billion in aid to Ukraine as its defenders keep up the fight to try and fend off Russian forces who invaded their country over a year and a half ago.

Another Poll Shows Grim Numbers For Biden On Age Question

A large majority of voters say President Joe Biden is too old to run for another term in the White House, according to a new poll.

The Wall Street Journal published the findings of a survey on Monday that found 73% of voters viewed Biden, 80, as being too old to run for president. Two-thirds of Democrats espoused this view, closely aligning with the findings of a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.

Voters faced the same question regarding 77-year-old former President Donald Trump, who is also running a campaign for a second term as the GOP frontrunner. Forty-seven percent of voters said Trump is too old.

“Voters are looking for change, and neither of the leading candidates is the change that they’re looking for,” insisted Democratic pollster Michael Bocian, who conducted the survey with Republican colleague Tony Fabrizio, who does surveys for a super PAC that supports Trump’s candidacy.

Already the oldest person to be president, Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term. His tendency to lose his train of thought while speaking and moments caught on camera where he has tripped or fallen over have spurred concerns about his ability to lead effectively.

Other surveys this year have signaled a rising tide of concern about Biden’s fitness to serve as commander-in-chief even as he dominates national primary polls for the Democrats above challengers Robert F. Kennedy and Marianne Williamson.

In public appearances, Biden and his Democrat allies in Congress tend to shrug off nagging questions about the president’s age, but they have not been able to shake the issue entirely amid rampant speculation about who else might jump into the race if the incumbent bows out.

“His age is an issue, and people have every right to consider it,” Hillary Clinton, a former presidential contender herself, said of Biden during an event in May.

The Wall Street Journal survey, which polled 1,500 registered voters late last month and has an overall margin of error of 2.5 percentage points, pressed respondents on other questions about Biden and Trump.

One question found that 36% feel Biden is mentally up for the job of president, compared to 46% for Trump. Biden scored higher on other questions focused on likability and honesty, but Trump performed better when it came to a record of accomplishments and a vision for the future.

The survey also found that only 39% of voters hold a favorable view of Biden while 42% of respondents said they approve of how he is handling his job and 57% disapprove. In a hypothetical general election rematch, Biden and Trump each got 46% support.

About Us

Virtus (virtue, valor, excellence, courage, character, and worth)

Vincit (conquers, triumphs, and wins)