The war against Ukraine has driven Mr. Putin closer to the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un, who has won new status with the Kremlin by opening his vast munitions stores to Moscow.
Nine months ago, after Mr. Kim arrived by armored train in the Russian Far East, the two men met at a Russian cosmodrome and toasted their “sacred struggle” against the West.
The North Korean leader, in between visiting sensitive Russian rocket and fighter jet facilities, invited Mr. Putin to make a reciprocal visit.
Now, the Russian president has taken him up on the offer.
The United States once relied on Moscow’s cooperation in its attempts to curb North Korea’s nuclear and missile program.
Persons:
Vladimir V, Putin, Kim Jong, Kim, Mr
Organizations:
Kremlin, West, North, Washington, United
Locations:
Russia, North Korea, Pyongyang, United States, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian