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Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened for a five-hour summit at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome on September 13.
The meeting, held at Russia’s primary spaceport, was marked by discussions on potential space technology partnerships and military cooperation.
The summit between Putin and Kim Jong Un comes amid escalating tensions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The international community is closely monitoring the developments, with concerns about the possibility of North Korea providing munitions to support Russia’s war efforts.
During the summit, the leaders reportedly showed keen interest in rocket engineering, hinting at potential collaborations in space technology. This meeting could mark a new chapter in the space exploration endeavors of both nations, which have been facing increasing isolation on the global stage.
While Russia continues to work with the US on the International Space Station, it has hinted that it is working on its own space laboratory the same way as China.
All about Vostochny Cosmodrome
The Vostochny Cosmodrome, located in Russia’s far eastern Amur region, has been a symbol of Russia’s space ambitions since its inception.
Amid occasional disputes with Kazakhstan over Baikonur Cosmodrome’s use, Russian authorities declared that the country needs a full-fledged space facility of its own while emphasising that it will continue to use Baikonur.
However, the spaceport has been plagued by construction delays and allegations of corruption, casting a shadow over its operations.
The Vostochny Cosmodrome was established following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite leasing the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan, Russia felt the need for its own full-fledged space facility, leading to the creation of the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
However, despite its inaugural launch in April 2016, the spaceport has seen limited use, with Russia continuing to rely heavily on Baikonur for most of its space launches.
One of the few high-profile missions launched from Vostochny was the Luna-25, a bold but unsuccessful attempt by Russia to return to the moon after nearly half a century.
The robotic Luna-25 probe crashed onto the lunar surface last month due to a technical glitch.
As the world watches, the outcomes of this summit could have far-reaching implications for the future of space exploration and international relations.
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