Data from the aircraft tracking website FlightRadar24 shows that the Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-62M flew from Moscow to the North Korean capital Pyongyang, landing on the morning of September 26, according to Bloomberg.
Russian Il-62 aircraft in Venezuela in 2019
The plane's tail number shows it was the one that flew from Russia to North Korea in August, days after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang and was shown North Korea's latest weapons systems.
Data shows that after arriving in Pyongyang on September 26, the plane stayed there for about two days and returned to Russia on September 28. NK News, a website that monitors North Korea, speculates that the plane was carrying military officials to discuss the transfer of weapons or technology. Russia and North Korea have not commented on this information.
A day after the Il-62M returned home, TASS news agency reported that North Korea's Minister of External Economic Relations Yun Jong-ho arrived in Moscow on a working visit.
Data shows the flight path of the Il-62.
North Korea has barely received any foreign aircraft since it closed its borders at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020. So receiving two flights in less than two months underscores the country’s cooperation with Russia.
Recently, leader Kim Jong-un visited Russia for nearly a week, met with President Vladimir Putin and inspected Russian military facilities, including a fighter jet factory.
US officials said the visit marked a "dangerous" two-way cooperation between Russia and North Korea, with one side needing weapons for the conflict in Ukraine while the other seeks help in developing its missile program.
North Korean officials have stressed the priority of developing relations with Russia and said other countries have no right to interfere in this.
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