Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are expected to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty as they hold talks in Pyongyang on Wednesday during Putin's first visit to the country in 24 years.
Kim welcomed the Russian president at a Pyongyang airport early Wednesday. The official Korean Central News Agency said Kim shook hands with Putin and embraced him, expressing his joy and gladness to see him again since their last meeting in Russia's Far East last September.
After being presented with a bouquet, Putin thanked Kim for coming to the airport. The North Korean leader personally guided his Russian counterpart to his accommodation while they had a friendly chat, KCNA said.
The two countries have been deepening ties in military and other areas since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, with Pyongyang accused of providing arms to Moscow to aid its aggression.
KCNA said Putin's visit is "of great importance in reliably promoting the strategic and future-oriented development" of bilateral relations, "powerfully propelling the cause of building a powerful country, a desire common to the peoples" of North Korea and Russia.
The two leaders will discuss the "final results" of the negotiations and issue press statements, Russia's Tass news agency quoted presidential aide Yury Ushakov as saying.
Ushakov also said the new treaty will outline the prospects for further cooperation and cover security issues, taking into account bilateral developments in recent years, according to the report.
The new document will replace past accords, including the Treaty of Friendship and Good-Neighborhood Cooperation of 2000, Ushakov said.
In September last year, Putin met Kim at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center in the Russian Far East. At the time, Kim invited Putin to visit his country, according to KCNA. Moscow is suspected of assisting and guiding North Korea in its bid to launch military spy satellites.
Western countries including the United States, Japan and South Korea have expressed concerns over Putin's North Korea visit to further deepen Moscow-Pyongyang ties.
