How Kim Jong Un could bolster air force by visiting Russian aviation factory | NK News
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September 27, 2026Sep 27, 2026

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How Kim Jong Un could bolster air force by visiting Russian aviation factory

Experts say North Korea may seek fighter jets and plane parts during planned tour as Kim works to modernize air fleet

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to visit aviation factories in the Russian Far East this week following his summit with Vladimir Putin, in a move that experts say could be part of the DPRK’s efforts to modernize its outdated combat aircraft fleet.

Putin announced after the summit at the Cosmodrome Vostochny spaceport on Wednesday that Kim Jong Un would “fly” to see “aviation factories” in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, as well as visit Vladivostok to “observe” Russia’s naval capabilities.

Moscow and Pyongyang had yet to reveal whether Kim had visited as of Thursday evening, and Russian state media did not