North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received a bulletproof vest and a drone as a farewell gift after completing a visit to Russia, a move that alarmed Western countries.
The send-off capped an unusual six-day visit to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and raise the possibility that North Korea would provide weapons to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine.
Kim rarely traveled abroad, received a generous welcome, and spent much of his travels touring military facilities. North Korea is under severe sanctions and needs everything from energy to food to military technology.
When he left, the governor of Primorsky Krai in Russia's far east gave him a bulletproof vest and a set of drones, Russian state media TASS reported. "This is a bulletproof vest with zones that protect the chest, shoulders, neck and groin and is much lighter than the known ones," the state news agency added.
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| North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Putin |
TASS added that Kim was also presented with five suicide attack drones and 25 Geranium reconnaissance drones manufactured in the same region. An additional gift was a special set of clothing that was invisible to thermal imaging cameras. A video released by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti shows Kim boarding a private armored train and leaving Artyom station as Russian officials waved after a farewell ceremony with a red carpet and honor guard. It was being shown.
The train is expected to travel more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Artyom to the border town of Hasan, RIA said.