North Korea and Russia have both announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will soon visit Russia to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin. A possibility of the North supplying weapons to Russia could be on the agenda, as the invasion of Ukraine drags on.
The two countries said on Monday that the North Korean leader will travel to Russia at the invitation of Putin.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian and North Korean delegations will meet. He also suggested that the two leaders would hold one-on-one talks with only interpreters present.
South Korean media quoted South Korean government sources as saying a train believed to be carrying Kim has left for Vladivostok in the Russian Far East.
Putin arrived in Vladivostok on Monday to attend the Eastern Economic Forum.
This will be Kim's first visit to Russia in four years, and his second summit with Putin.
Moscow apparently wants the possibility of North Korea supplying arms to Russia to be discussed in the talks, amid the prolonged invasion of Ukraine.
North Korea will likely use this occasion to demonstrate its close relations with Russia, a major backer of the country, along with China.
Pyongyang may also seek advanced military technologies from Russia, including those related to nuclear submarines and reconnaissance satellites.