Putin meets North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in first visit to the capital in over two decades

NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin was warmly welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warmly at Pyongyang’s airport, marking Putin’s first visit to the North Korean capital in over two decades.
According to North Korean state media, the two leaders engaged in candid exchange of thoughts and agreed to strengthen the ties between their nations.

Kim greeted Putin with a handshake, an embrace, and conversation near the Russian leader’s plane, after which they traveled together in a limousine to the Kumsusan State Guest House, the report by the local media said.
“Passing through charmingly lit streets of Pyongyang at night, the top leaders exchanged their pent-up inmost thoughts and opened their minds to more surely develop the DPRK-Russia relations,” local media KCNA said.

  

Putin’s early morning arrival marks his first visit to the North Korean capital in 24 years, a visit that could transform the long-standing relationship between Russia and North Korea as both face international isolation.
Their alliance, described as an “engine for accelerating the construction of a new multi-polar world,” reflects the resilience and strength of their friendship and unity, as reported by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA.

Russia has leveraged its growing ties with North Korea to challenge the US, while heavily sanctioned North Korea has gained political support and promises of economic and trade aid from Moscow.
The United States and its allies are concerned that Russia might assist North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs, which are banned by UN Security Council resolutions, and have accused Pyongyang of supplying ballistic missiles and artillery shells for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang deny these allegations.