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Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un during their meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, about 200 kilometers from the city of Blagoveshchensk in the far eastern Amur region of Russia, in September last year. Photo: AP
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Putin willing to visit Pyongyang at early date, North Korea says, as Russia gives ‘deep thanks’ for support

  • Russia leader’s visit to North Korea, which could come before Russia’s presidential election in March, would be his first since July 2000
  • Russia also thanked North Korea for its support and solidarity in the Ukraine war, with both countries expressing serious concerns over US behaviour
North Korea
Reuters
Kyodo
ReutersandKyodo
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to visit Pyongyang at an early date, North Korea’s state-run media said on Sunday.
Putin expressed “deep thanks” for an invitation by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit the capital during a meeting earlier this week with the country’s visiting foreign minister, Choe Son-Hui, the official Korean Central News Agency said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-Hui during their meeting at the Kremlin earlier this week. Photo: EPA

The North Korean government “warmly welcomes President Putin to visit Pyongyang and is ready to greet the Korean people’s closest friend with the greatest sincerity”, KCNA said.

Putin’s visit to North Korea, which could come before Russia’s presidential election in March, would be his first since July 2000 when the country was led by Kim’s late father, Kim Jong-il.

North Korea fires ballistic missile, foreign minister to visit Russia

Russia thanked North Korea for its support and solidarity in the Ukraine war, and the two also expressed serious concerns over provocative acts by the United States and its allies against Pyongyang’s sovereign rights while agreeing to cooperate in regional affairs, the report said.

04:33

Satellite imagery suggests North Korea is supplying Russia with weapons through Rason port

Satellite imagery suggests North Korea is supplying Russia with weapons through Rason port

The cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow will be in line with the United Nations Charter and other international laws, it added.

The two countries have been enhancing ties following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine that started in February 2022. The two leaders met last September at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch centre in the Russian Far East during a visit to Russia by Kim.
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