Q: What's the aim of Putin's visit to the North and why is he doing it now?
Amma Hideo: He wants to take advantage of the relationship between the countries to counter the West. It's a continuation of what he has been doing since Kim's visit to Russia last year.
I doubt you will hear him say it publicly, but Putin will likely express gratitude for Kim's support amid the conflict in Ukraine. US and South Korean officials believe Russia is getting weapons from the North in return for helping launch a military satellite.
Pyongyang's attempt late last month ended in disaster. Putin may not say it, but he continues to remind the international community that Russia is supporting the North's satellite and ballistic missile development. And he wants to show he has significant influence on the country.
As for the timing of this visit, think about what else has been making the headlines. There was the big G7 summit in Italy last week, then the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. A lot of leaders taking the spotlight. Putin wants some of it, too.
Q: You touched on what Moscow and Pyongyang each have to gain. How has that changed since Putin last visited more than two decades ago?
Amma Hideo: For Russia, North Korea is an important card for countering the West. That remains the same. But Putin's reasons for improving ties are clearly different.
He last visited in 2000, and met with then-leader Kim Jong-Il. Putin said the North suggested it would abandon its ballistic missile development if other countries helped it launch a satellite.
He then pitched that idea to the Group of 8, back when Russia was a member and had far better relations with the West. He portrayed the idea as a way to ease tensions with Pyongyang. While his fellow G8 leaders had doubts, they could not completely deny it.
But Russia's role has clearly changed. It's not trying to play mediator anymore. It has to rely on North Korea more and more as Russia becomes further isolated on the world's stage.
Q: What do you expect to come out of Putin's meeting with Kim?
Amma Hideo: They are set to sign a strategic partnership treaty. I think it's part of a much bigger goal.
Russia is trying to reshape the global order by working with a group of non-Western countries. North Korea could become part of it. That would pose a big problem for the West and Japan.
The key to all this is China. It has been the North's main source of support and wants things to stay that way. So Beijing is not comfortable with Moscow strengthening its influence on Pyongyang.
And Beijing wants to avoid major economic and security conflicts with the US, Europe and others. For Putin, ties with China are very important. He'll be keeping those in mind on his visit to the North. He'll try to strike a good balance.
