In this photo released by the governor of the Russian far eastern region of Khabarovsky Krai region Mikhail Degtyarev's telegram channel, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, center left, visits a Russian aircraft plant that builds fighter jets in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, about 6,200 kilometers east of Moscow, Russia, September 15, 2023. /CFP
Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un inspected Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships on Saturday, accompanied by President Vladimir Putin's defense minister.
A smiling Kim was greeted in Russia's Knevichi airfield, about 50 kilometers from the Pacific city of Vladivostok, by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who saluted Kim. The DPRK leader then inspected a guard of honor.
Shoigu showed Kim 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 Defense Ministry said.
"It can fly from Moscow to Japan and then back again," Shoigu told Kim of one aircraft.
Kim was shown asking about how the missiles were fired from the aircraft, at times nodding and smiling.
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 while carrying a payload of 480 kilograms. It may travel at up to 10 times the speed of sound (12,000 kph, 7,700 mph).
After the aircraft and missiles, Kim inspected the warship of Russia's Pacific fleet in Vladivostok, where he was due to watch a demonstration by the Russian navy.