North Korea Leader Visits Aviation Plant in Russian Far East Town

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un arrives at the Vostochny Cosmodrome to hold a summit with President Vladimir Putin (dpa)
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un arrives at the Vostochny Cosmodrome to hold a summit with President Vladimir Putin (dpa)
TT

North Korea Leader Visits Aviation Plant in Russian Far East Town

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un arrives at the Vostochny Cosmodrome to hold a summit with President Vladimir Putin (dpa)
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un arrives at the Vostochny Cosmodrome to hold a summit with President Vladimir Putin (dpa)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday morning arrived at a Russian industrial city to visit a military aviation factory, as part of his days-long trip to Russia, Russian agencies reported.

TASS news agency said the North Korean leader arrived by train in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur to visit an aviation plant. Interfax for its part indicated that Kim was to visit a company in the aviation sector producing “combat and civilian equipment.”

Kim's visit to Russia is his first official trip abroad since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim held a summit at the Vostochny cosmodrome, where they visited the site and met for about two hours for talks on enhancing relationships, particularly at the military level.

On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kim's far east visit will last a few more days, without giving further details.

Putin said on television that Kim will visit factories where civilian and combat aviation equipment is produced in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

“There is also a military component in Vladivostok... to demonstrate the capabilities of the Pacific Fleet,” Putin told state media. Kim had visited the Russian city in 2019.



Khamenei Calls on Muslims to Confront Israel

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, September 25, 2024. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, September 25, 2024. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
TT

Khamenei Calls on Muslims to Confront Israel

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, September 25, 2024. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, September 25, 2024. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on Muslims on Saturday "to stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah with whatever means they have and assist them in confronting the ... wicked regime (of Israel)".

Khamenei, in a statement after the Israeli army said it had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, said: "The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront", state media reported, according to Reuters.

After Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah's death, Iranian media reported that General Abbas Nilforoushan, a deputy commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, had died "next to Nasrallah" in the Israeli strikes on south Beirut on Friday.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani vowed in a post on X that Nasrallah's "path will be continued and his holy goal will be realized in the liberation of Jerusalem".

Meanwhile, two regional officials briefed by Tehran told Reuters that Khamenei has been transferred to a secure location inside the country with heightened security measures in place.

The sources said Iran was in constant contact with Hezbollah and other parties to determine the next step after the killing of Nasrallah.