South Koreans watch broadcast of North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 25, 2019 Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin today in Russia.

Kim and Putin will seek to deepen bilateral cooperation through weapon and technology exchanges. The US, South Korea, Japan and allied nations have warned the two pariah states against conducting the meeting which could violate numerous UN Security Council resolutions.

Kim Jong-un will attempt to obtain critical nuclear weapons technology from Russia today. This will be necessary as North Korea has failed to conduct a nuclear weapon test in 2023, and has shown no proof of owning a miniaturized nuclear bomb.

Putin will leverage Russia’s nuclear weapons technology for North Korea’s vast weapons stockpiles. Replenishing Russia’s artillery shell and missile stockpiles through this exchange will be essential for continuing the war in Ukraine.

Expect fruitful dialogue and weapons exchanges to commence. Both nations—having been shunned from the international community—have few other options for international cooperation. Nevertheless, this cooperation means an extreme spike in global geopolitical risk.

North Korea has proven it is developing solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, inching its strike capabilities closer to major US cities. Russia’s nuclear and missile technology could therefore complete the equation and give North Korea a true nuclear ICBM.