Putin praises North Korea for support ahead of rare visit to Pyongyang

DW reported the information.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for its support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing that the two nations will work closely to counter Western sanctions. This statement was made in an op-ed published by North Korean state media on Tuesday, shortly before Putin's anticipated arrival in Pyongyang for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In the op-ed, carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Putin praised North Korea's backing: "We highly appreciate that the DPRK [North Korea] is firmly supporting the special military operations of Russia being conducted in Ukraine." 

He highlighted the ongoing development of a “many-sided partnership” between the two countries, including their aligned positions at the United Nations.

Putin also mentioned plans to deepen cooperation in areas such as tourism, culture, and education. He asserted that both nations would continue to oppose Western efforts to "to hinder the establishment of a multipolarized world order based on mutual respect for justice."

This visit marks Putin's first trip to North Korea since 2000, when he met with Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il. 

Kim Jong Un made a rare visit to Russia last year, where he and Putin discussed potential collaboration in space technology. Kim also visited Vladivostok in Russia's far east in April 2019.

With Russia facing increasing international isolation due to sanctions, and North Korea long accustomed to such a status, the two allies have found greater incentive to collaborate. South Korea, the US, and Ukraine have accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia in violation of UN sanctions, allegedly in exchange for assistance with its satellite program. Both Russia and North Korea have denied these claims, calling them "absurd."

• In February, Bloomberg reported, citing South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, that the DPRK has sent about 6,700 containers of weapons to Russia, accelerating the pace of deliveries after Putin held a summit with Kim Jong Un in September.