On the 3rd (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived at a meeting venue in Beijing, China. Reuters = Yonhap News.
Just before the bilateral talks between President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, there was reportedly a confrontation over the indoor temperature between the two sides’ entourages, as reported by Russian media.
On the 3rd (local time), the daily Kommersant reported that while the summit between President Putin and Chairman Kim took place in a friendly atmosphere, there was a tense standoff between the representatives of both sides.
According to the media, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, where the North Korea-Russia bilateral meeting was held, a North Korean official suddenly grabbed the air conditioner thermostat attached to the wall and attempted to change the temperature at will.
As this North Korean official raised the indoor temperature to 23 degrees, a Russian official intervened, suggesting it be set to 20 degrees. The media reported, “The North Korean official, despite understanding the Russian speaker’s words in Russian, absolutely did not give up on adjusting the temperature.”
The media described how the two individuals tussled, trying to remove each other’s fingers from the thermostat, until eventually, one person relented, noting, “Perhaps the North Korean found it slightly uncomfortable.”
In a video released by Kommersant on their Telegram channel, it shows the North Korean official leaving the area first, while the Russian official continued to guard the thermostat.
Shortly after the brief standoff, President Putin and Chairman Kim arrived at the meeting venue together in President Putin’s official limousine, “Aurus.” Unlike their entourages, the two leaders engaged in a 2-hour and 30-minute meeting, praising each other and showcasing their strong alliance.