Putin caught feeling bored during North Korea visit

Videos from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years appear to show the leader looking disinterested during a special concert held in his honor in Pyongyang, social media users have observed.

Putin and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un attended the concert at the Sports Palace in Pyongyang alongside delegations from Russia and North Korea.

“We welcome the President of the Russian Federation, Comrade Vladimir Putin!” I read a banner in Korean and Russian hung in the lobby.

Pyongyang and Moscow have deepened ties since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022. The two leaders signed a new strategic partnership agreement on Wednesday that requires the two countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event of an event. of war.

The national anthems of both countries were played and musicians performed a medley of Russian songs, including “The Holy War”, “Where the Fatherland Begins”, “We Need a Victory” and “Katyusha”, for Putin .

A clip of Putin at the event, which has been viewed more than 200,000 times, prompted social media users to suggest he had not enjoyed the concert.

“Putin: ‘How did I get into this?!'” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a screenshot of the Russian leader.

“Putin looks bored,” another X user wrote.

“The body language does not show enthusiasm or happiness in any of the leaders,” one person noted.

News week contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment by email.

Kim was quoted Wednesday by Russia’s official Tass news agency as saying his country “expresses its full support and solidarity to the Russian government, army and people in carrying out a special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests, as well as”. such as territorial integrity.”

Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that Article 4 of the new agreement reached between Russia and North Korea during the visit requires each side to deploy “all means at its disposal without delay” to provide “military and other assistance” in the event a nation is attacked.

“The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement,” Putin was quoted as saying by Tass.

Kim called the agreement “the strongest treaty ever signed between Pyongyang and Moscow.”

Putin invited Kim to visit the Russian capital in the future, according to Russian media.

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