North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships on September 16, accompanied by President Vladimir Putin’s Defence Minister.
A smiling Mr. Kim was greeted in Russia’s Knevichi airfield, about 50 km (30) miles from the Pacific city of Vladivostok, by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who saluted Mr. Kim. The North Korean leader then inspected a guard of honour.
The United States and South Korea fear the revival of Moscow’s friendship with Pyongyang could give Mr. Kim access to some of Russia’s sensitive missile and other technology while helping arm Russia in its war in Ukraine.
Mr. Shoigu showed Kim Mr. Russia’s strategic bombers — the Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 — which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and form the backbone of Russia’s nuclear air attack force, Russia’s Defence Ministry said.
“It can fly from Moscow to Japan and then back again,” Mr. Shoigu told Mr. Kim of one aircraft.
Mr. Kim was shown asking about how the missiles were fired from the aircraft, at times nodding and smiling.
Mr. Shoigu showed him the MiG-31I supersonic interceptor aircraft equipped with “Kinzhal” hypersonic missiles. The Kinzhal, or dagger, is an air-launched ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads.
It has a reported range of 1,500 to 2,000 km (930-1,240 miles) while carrying a payload of 480 kg (1,100 pounds). It may travel at up to 10 times the speed of sound (12,000 kph, 7,700 mph).
With input source
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