Vladimir Putin has “accepted” an invitation from Kim Jong-un to visit North Korea, according to state media.
The Russian leader accepted the invitation during a meeting between the two leaders on Wednesday, North Korean state news agency KCNA said.
The move will intensify Western concerns that a Moscow-Pyongyang alliance could bolster Russia’s war in Ukraine via the supply of ammunition, and also provide Mr Kim with advanced military tech.
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Putin has rarely travelled abroad.
The pair discussed “possibilities" for military cooperation in Wednesday’s highly scrutinised meeting, and toasted each other as “comrades” with Russian wine.
The meeting saw Putin show the North Korean dictator around a remote space launch facility, raising concerns that the regime could be seeking advanced satellite tech.
Washington has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia, although it is not clear if deliveries have been made. Russia and North Korea have denied this.
Kim is due on Thursday to visit military and civilian aviation factories in the Russian city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur and to inspect Russia’s Pacific fleet in Vladivostok, Putin said.
South Korea said on Thursday North Korea and Russia would “pay a price" if they violated UN Security Council resolutions, as both are under sanctions.
Russia needs munitions for its war in Ukraine and North Korea is believed to have a large stockpile of artillery shells and rockets compatible with Soviet-era weapons.
Asked whether Russia could simply remove sanctions on North Korea, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remained a responsible member of the UN Security Council.
But he added that Moscow would develop its relations with North Korea in accordance with its own interests.
The US said in response that it “won’t hesitate" to impose additional sanctions on Russia and North Korea if they conclude any new arms deals.
