Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit North Korea on June 18-19, a trip intended to highlight Moscow’s strengthening partnership with the isolated nuclear-armed nation. The Kremlin announced the visit on June 17, citing an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The visit follows Kim Jong Un’s September 2023 visit to Russia’s Far East, during which he extended the invitation to Putin. This will be Putin’s first visit to Pyongyang since July 2020, underscoring the deepening relationship between the two countries.
After concluding his visit to North Korea, Putin is scheduled to visit Vietnam on June 19-20. Putin’s trip to North Korea comes at a time when Moscow is seeking to strengthen its alliances with countries outside the West, particularly in Asia. It also highlights the growing relationship between Russia and North Korea, which has been fueled by shared interests in opposing Western influence and promoting their own geopolitical agenda.
