INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
"We will always be with Russia," Kim said, according to footage broadcast on Russian TV."An old friend is better than two new ones," Putin
said, quoting a Russian proverb and referencing the Soviet Union's role in the Korean War.Their talks as well as discussions with
delegations lasted around two hours before the leaders proceeded to the official dinner in Kim's honor.Kim will later oversee a display of
the potential of Russia's Pacific fleet in Vladivostok, Putin announced.Cosmodrome meetingThe two leaders met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome
in Russia's Far East, with footage released by the Kremlin showing the pair shaking hands enthusiastically as Kim arrived.The two then
toured assembly and launch facilities for the Angara and Soyuz-2 space rocket launchers before sitting down for talks with their
delegations.While Kim was in Russia, Pyongyang fired two ballistic missiles on Wednesday, the South Korean military said, the latest in a
string of sanctions-busting tests.Experts say Russia will likely use the talks to seek artillery shells and antitank missiles from North
Korea, which wants advanced satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology in return.Kim, who traveled overland to Russia in his
bullet-proof train, was accompanied by an entourage that suggested the summit would have a strong military focus.Among the top military
officials accompanying Kim were Korean People's Army Marshal Pak Jong Chon and Munitions Industry Department Director Jo Chun Ryong,
according to the North's state media.Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu took part in the talks with Kim, as did Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov, images on Russian state television showed.Ahead of the announcement of the talks, Russian news agencies published images of
Kim and Putin touring the vast space center."The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket technology, and they are trying to
develop (their presence in) space," Putin said, referring to North Korea by its official name.Kim thanked Putin for inviting him to visit,
Korea was "prioritizing the strategic importance" of its Russia ties.Tactical gainsThe meeting at the cosmodrome is symbolic, especially as
Pyongyang failed twice recently in its bid to put a military spy satellite into orbit, experts said.Russia is eager for North Korea's
stockpile of artillery shells, while Pyongyang is looking for help with satellite technology and upgrading its Soviet-era military
equipment, An Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP."If North Korea's
multiple rocket launchers and other artillery shells are provided to Russia in large quantities, it could have a significant impact on the
war in Ukraine," he said.Russia's natural resources minister Alexander Kozlov greeted Kim when he arrived in the country, giving him
historic autographed photographs of Soviet cosmonauts, including Yuri Gagarin, Kozlov's ministry told TASS.The White House warned last
week that North Korea would "pay a price" if it supplies Russia with weaponry for the conflict in Ukraine.Kim is also risking the
displeasure of his other major ally Beijing by meeting Putin, Vladimir Tikhonov, professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, told
AFP."China will be hardly too happy about Russia entering into what Chinese consider their monopoly territory," he said, adding Beijing
would be worried about the regional destabilization impact of any transfer of Russian military technology to Pyongyang.Kim and Putin "may
conduct an exchange of North Korea's old-age, Soviet-type ammo for Russia's newer military tech or hard currency (or wheat)."But he
warned that "Russia's important ties to Seoul will be dealt irreparable damage."
