North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un arrives at the Vostochny Сosmodrome for a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023.  Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Kremlin via REUTERS
North Korea

North Korean leader takes tour of Russia's aviation plant

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia's Far East and headed straight to a vast aviation plant that produces warplanes and other equipment.

(Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in the town of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia's Far East on Friday and headed straight to a vast aviation plant that produces warplanes and other equipment, TASS news agency said.

TASS said Kim was met by the regional governor and other officials on a red carpet at the town's railway station. He was whisked off to the Komsomolsk aviation plant, named after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space.

The plant produces Russia's most modern fighter jets, with TASS singling out the Su-35 and Su-57. The plant also manufactures civil aircraft.

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin told reporters on Friday that the government was considering viable options for independent sanctions on North Korea and Russia over arms trade concerns, news agency Yonhap reported.

Kim, accompanied by Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Thursday visited Vostochny cosmodrome, Russia's most modern space launch facility, in the Amur region.

The two leaders, accompanied by their defence ministers, have discussed military matters. Putin on Thursday accepted Kim's invitation to visit North Korea.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Gerry Doyle)

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