Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to North Korea on Tuesday for a two-day "friendly state visit," according to officials in Moscow.
The Russian leader received an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to hold talks in Pyongyang on expanding military cooperation and other issues, the Kremlin said.
Russia's long-standing close ties with North Korea are viewed with great suspicion by the United States and its allies. According to Western countries, North Korea supplies ammunition for Russia's war against Ukraine.
North Korea is heavily isolated internationally and subject to tough sanctions due to its nuclear weapons programme.
In September 2023, Kim travelled to Russia on a rare foreign trip, joining Putin for a tour of the Vostochny space launch centre in Russia's far-eastern region of Amur.