[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] North Korea-Russia Summit, Likely Venue?

Far Eastern Federal University has short routes and suitable official banquet accommodations
Kim Jong-un lacks multilateral diplomatic experience and may move to outskirts

On the 12th, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, who visited Russia, kept the timing and location of the North Korea-Russia summit with President Vladimir Putin under wraps. Both North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, which disclosed Kim's visit to Russia the previous day, and Russia's TASS news agency did not reveal specific details of the itinerary.

So far, the most likely venue for the North Korea-Russia summit has been the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), where the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is held. Russky Island, where this university is located, is a 976 km² island south of Vladivostok city. The Russian government selected this island, which previously housed a Russian naval base, as the venue for the 2012 APEC summit and developed it extensively. The facilities built for the APEC summit are now used as the new campus of Far Eastern Federal University. The university has four dormitory buildings used as accommodations for leaders during the annual Eastern Economic Forum, including a presidential suite. Considering the official summit dinner and accommodations, Far Eastern Federal University is analyzed to be a suitable location.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, since the Kremlin has stated that the North Korea-Russia leaders will not meet at the Eastern Economic Forum, it is anticipated that the summit may be held at a nearby location within Vladivostok, separate from the forum.

Primarily, the Vostochny Cosmodrome, connected to Vladivostok by rail, or Khabarovsk are being mentioned. This is because Chairman Kim, who has little experience in multilateral diplomacy, might avoid the Eastern Economic Forum, which involves high-level officials from China and other countries. U.S. intelligence agencies have also identified the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center, located about 1,500 km north of Vladivostok, as one of the possible venues for the summit. If Russia agrees to transfer key military reconnaissance satellite technologies during the North Korea-Russia summit, it would be an appropriate occasion to showcase achievements externally.

Khabarovsk and Ulan-Ude, the largest cities in the Russian Far East, are also considered potential venues for this summit. Khabarovsk is the hometown of Kim Jong-il, and it is also where his grandfather, Chairman Kim Il-sung, was active with the 88th Sniper Brigade. This year in October, North Korea and Russia will mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and the location is evaluated to have symbolic significance in history and military cooperation. In 2011, Kim Jong-il planned to hold a summit with then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Vladivostok but changed the venue to Ulan-Ude.

Since the North Korea-Russia leaders are meeting again after four years, the schedule may include events showcasing North Korea-Russia cooperation. This itinerary includes Chairman Kim inspecting the Zvezda Shipyard and Vladivostok port facilities, about a two-hour drive from Vladivostok. The Zvezda Shipyard is being developed by President Putin as a manufacturing base in the Far East under the New Eastern Policy, and Vladivostok port is the logistics hub of Russia's Far East, with the nearby starting point of the Trans-Siberian Railway, making it a place of interest for Chairman Kim.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.