The governor of Primorye spoke about Kim Jong-un’s visit to Vladivostok. Photo: Yuri Smityuk/TASS
On Saturday, September 16, North Korean leader Kim Jong-UN returned from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to Primorye. (And before that, the distinguished guest, as reported, also visited the Vostochny cosmodrome.)
First of all, the Korean leader visited the large anti-submarine ship Marshal Shaposhnikov and, as news agencies also report, “had lunch in the field kitchen right on the pier.”
In the afternoon and evening, Kim Jong-un was already in Vladivostok.
When it was already night, I managed to contact the governor of Primorye, Oleg Kozhemyako, by phone.
Despite being very busy (the head of the region is also closely involved in organizing Comrade Kim’s visit), he answered several of my questions.
… – Oleg Nikolaevich, you met Kim Jong-un on the first day of his visit and accompanied him on a trip to other regions of the Far East. Has his appearance changed much since you didn’t see him? Two years have passed?
– No, three years.
He became more energetic. He seems, it seems to me, more active.
– More relaxed, closer?
– He is interested in everything, he delves into all topics. So alive and moving. A very energetic person.
– Our president met with Kim Jong-un at the Vostochny cosmodrome. How do you rate this event?
– Very high.
– So, in August 2009, you were governor of the Amur region, and when Vladimir Putin arrived in Lada Kalina (I covered that trip), do you remember: you marked the first peg there with him?
– This is an emblematic object.
– Have you personally managed to discuss some issues with the leader of the DPRK?
– The work continues…
– And another question. It has already been answered in the Kremlin. Why is there so much hysteria in the West over Comrade Kim Jong-un’s stay in Russia, in Primorye?
– Any ally of Russia causes them terrible hostility. Especially one who has power and an opinion of his own.
– We are already allies, do you think?
– We… These are our neighbors. The closest one. A close neighbor is better than a distant relative. Therefore, who is the first to come to the aid of others? Neighbors. We build both allied and friendly relationships with our neighbors. What’s more, we have always had them, for more than 70 years.
– Oleg Nikolaevich Kozhemyako will not go to the DPRK, to Pyongyang?
– Now, while we work…
– Do you have any ideas like that?
– I’ll share it later, Alexander. Good?
– How is the atmosphere in Primorye? Kim Jong-un has been with you for so many days and now he has returned again. What people say?
– Good humor. The residents of Primorye warmly welcome the distinguished guest, we have always been positive towards North Korea, because it is our closest neighbor.
AND AT THIS MOMENT
According to news agencies, this Saturday the 16th, the Russian Minister of Defense, Army General Sergei Shoigu, presented (and commented on) how our famous Uran missile systems and the universal Caliber cruise missile systems work. And also a 100mm A-190 automatic artillery mount.
It is also reported that on the same day Sergei Kuzhugetovich showed Kim Jong-un the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system.
Then the head of the Russian Defense Ministry and the leader of the DPRK inspected the Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers…
