Kim Jong Un-Putin talks: What do the optics tell us?

[Social Media]

 

They strolled side by side through the gleaming space centre - their aides behind them falling in step.

Standing over a launchpad, they stared into the pit from where rockets blast into space.

And over a banquet later that day, they drank red wine and toasted the embrace of their two pariah states.

The optics of Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin's date in Russia's far east have been flashy to say the least. And it isn't over yet with the North Korean leader spending several days touring shipyards, aircraft factories and other military sites before he returns home.

There had been great anticipation in the lead-up - with global media rapt as Kim trundled for hours in his armoured train over the border.

He kept the West guessing for nearly 40 hours before reaching the Vostochny Cosmodrome - a space base in a far-flung eastern corner of Russia. Even then, it was unclear what exactly the pair would be meeting to talk about - with White House warnings last week that the North could sell arms to Russia sparking alarm.

 

Putin had sent ahead a welcome party to greet Kim as his train rolled onto the space base's tracks. A red-carpeted, balustrade staircase was also erected mid-air, waiting for the train to pull in and for the North Korean leader to step out.

 

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[Tug]

To me it looks like Putin begging hat in hand for ammo and little Kim licking his jowls not a good look,definitely humiliating for Putin 

[Chomper Higgot]

Putin begging for arms from one the most impoverished nations in the planet.

 

Screams desperation.