Russia: Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation from Mr. Kim Jong Un to visit North Korea. Mr. Kim is in Russia for the first face-to-face meeting with Mr. Putin in four years.
The North Korean leader’s visit aims to strengthen their military modernization, while Mr. Putin looks forward to reinforcing alliances in the war with Ukraine.
Mr. Kim invited the Russian President at the end of the day, where the two held more than four hours of talks and toured the Vostochny Cosmodrome space centre.
“Putin accepted the invitation with pleasure and reaffirmed his will to invariably carry forward the history and tradition of the Russia-DPRK friendship,” North Korean state news agency KCNA said.
The meeting has raised concerns in the US and some countries because of Mr. Kim’s plan to sell arms to Moscow for its war in Ukraine.
Mr. Kim is anticipated to visit an aircraft factory and travel to Vladivostok, where he will view Russia’s Pacific fleet. The North Korean leader’s delegation includes his defence minister, his top military commander, and the director of the country’s munitions department.
According to the KCNA, the two leaders agreed to strengthen further strategic and tactical cooperation in the face of the “military threats, provocations, and tyranny of imperialists.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Putin commented on the “strengthening of cooperation and friendship between our countries” and said he saw “possibilities” for military cooperation with the East Asian country.
North Korea is reportedly seeking assistance in building spy satellites, as their two attempts this year to put one into orbit have failed.