VLADIMIR Putin has landed in North Korea for a two-day summit to meet his ‘Axis of Evil’ ally Kim Jong-un.
Tyrants Kim, 40, and Putin, 71, are expected to reinforce their strong relationship after vowing to forge a “New World Order” as part of the Russian leader’s first visit to the dictatorship state in 24 years.
AP:Associated PressVladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un meeting back in 2019[/caption]
ReutersThe pair of tyrants are expected to speak about forging a ‘New World Order’ during Putin’s visit[/caption]
Sky NewsPutin was seen touching down in Russia early on Tuesday morning before making a three-hour trip to North Korea[/caption]
GettyA picture of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on a billboard is seen on a building in Pyongyang[/caption]
AFPThe pair were described as having a ‘lonely bromance’ by Ukraine’s foreign minister[/caption]
Kremlin has confirmed the Russian despot touched down in the country’s capital, Pyongyang, to kick off his two-day visit.
Kim Jong Un arrived at the airport to greet Putin, RIA Novosti reports.
It is understood that a formal bilateral meeting between the two dictators is said to take place tomorrow morning.
Both the tyrants are expected to show a united front against the West during the two-day meet.
In a presidential decree issued by the Kremlin yesterday, Putin said that Russia could sign a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” with North Korea.
Earlier today, Putin was seen flying in Russia’s far east before making a three-hour flight across the border later.
He was seen emerging from his prestigious Il-96 plane in Yakutsk – the coldest city on Earth – flanked by his large security team.
At least one fighter jet – believed to be a Sukhoi Su-30 – escorted Putin’s aircraft while on his way to North Korea, the BBC reports.
It was also the first time the Russian president was accompanied by military aircraft inside Russian airspace.
Ahead of his planned visit, Putin pledged his support for North Korea in a letter published by state media.
He thanked the country for “firmly supporting” his brutal and illegal war in Ukraine.
Putin also promised to help defend North Korea’s interests despite what he called “US pressure, blackmail and military threats”.
Before he announced the two countries would look at developing trade and payment systems away from the West.
In the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, huge banners have been strewn up across the city showing off Putin’s snarling grin.
Some of the signs have been hung from lampposts with the words “we ardently welcome President Putin!” stuck across them along with Russian flags.
Putin arrived in North Korea flanked by several of his top Kremlin officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Denis Mantrurov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to his foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
Mr Ushakov also announced that a number of highly significant documents will be signed during the visit.
North Korea has responded to Putin’s generosity in recent months by agreeing to further strategic and tactical cooperation with Russia.
The two tyrant-led nations are both looking to ramp up a united front against the United States, it has been said.
In January, Kim sent delegates to Moscow following the North Korean leader’s own trip there in September last year.
He is trying to regain his footing as he navigates a worsening nuclear stalemate with Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years as Kim continues to use Russia’s chilling invasion of Ukraine as a distraction to ramp up his own weapons testing.
Kim has also been active with North Korean military demonstrations.
The US and its western allies have accused North Korea of aiding Vlad by supplying Russia with arms, including ballistic missiles, to use in Ukraine.
North Korea described the allegations as “absurd”.
Both countries are under rafts of UN sanctions – Pyongyang since 2006 over banned nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine.
North Korea said Putin’s visit showed bilateral ties “are getting stronger day by day”, the Korean Central News Agency reported.
And it would “give fresh vitality to the development of the good-neighbourly cooperative relations between the two countries”, it added.
But the US has voiced “concern” about the trip due to the security implications for South Korea – as well as Ukraine.
North and South Korea have remained technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict – and the border dividing them is one of the most heavily fortified in the world.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: “We know North Korean ballistic missiles are still being used to hit Ukrainian targets (and) there could be some reciprocity here that could affect security on the Korean peninsula.”
Highlighting the escalating security concerns, South Korea said its troops fired at soldiers from the North who briefly crossed the border on Tuesday before retreating.
The South’s military said it believed the soldiers accidentally crossed as they were fortifying the border – but said some were wounded after detonating landmines.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Putin’s trip showed how he was “dependent” on authoritarian leaders.
“Their closest friends and the biggest supporters of the Russian war effort — war of aggression — (are) North Korea, Iran and China,” he said.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged the West to counter “the lonely bromance” between Putin and Kim by increasing arms supplies to Kyiv.
Kuleba said: “The best way to respond to it is to continue strengthening the diplomatic coalition for just and lasting peace in Ukraine and delivering more Patriots and ammunition to Ukraine.”
Both leaders live eerily similar lives from awkward photo shoots to “short man syndrome”.
In February, Putin reportedly gifted Kim a £350,000 limousine as a thank-you for providing North Korean weapons to help in the war.
Putin’s elaborate gift was thought to be a violation of Moscow-backed United Nations Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the decision to gift the motor was made after Kim took a liking to Putin’s Aurus Senat Limousine.
AFPKim has constantly backed Putin’s war in Ukraine leading to the pair’s meeting[/caption]
Sky NewsPutin has been surrounded by security for every leg of the trip to North Korea[/caption]
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