U.S. Officials Raise Concerns About Incorrect Removal of Children from Medicaid in Several States

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly planning to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok later this month. The purpose of the meeting is said to be discussing potential weapons deals that would strengthen Russia's military presence in Ukraine. While the White House has not publicly confirmed the meeting, officials have expressed concerns about the growing relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang. They have urged Kim not to proceed with the trip or sell weapons to Russia. Arms negotiations between the two countries are said to be progressing, and Kim expects these discussions to continue with leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia. The Russian state news agency Interfax has not yet confirmed the meeting, but it referred to a New York Times article that first reported the story. Both Russia and North Korea, which are under heavy international sanctions, have been open about their increasingly close ties. North Korea has previously provided infantry rockets and missiles to Russia, and there are indications that it is considering offering military support for Russia's operations in Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang in July 2021 to enhance bilateral relations and encourage North Korea to sell artillery munitions to Moscow. Following the visit, Putin and Kim exchanged letters. Although North Korea has stated that it would not sell arms to Russia, discussions about potential arms sales have reportedly continued between the two countries. These deals could involve significant quantities and various types of munitions, as well as raw materials to support Russia's defense industry. Such arrangements would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. The United States has been imposing new sanctions on both Russia and North Korea, including measures targeting a Russian firm accused of having connections to North Korea's weapons programs. Kim rarely leaves North Korea, with his previous trips including meetings with President Donald Trump in Singapore and Hanoi, as well as visits to China and Vladivostok to meet with Putin in 2019.

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