Putin Arrives in North Korea for First Visit in 24 Years

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived for his first visit to North Korea in 24 years after heaping praise on Kim Jong Un’s regime for its support of Moscow’s war on Ukraine. Kim personally greeted and hugged Putin after he touched down at Sunan International Airport, which serves the capital Pyongyang, early Wednesday, and then they drove away in Putin’s limo, according to video posted by Russian state news agency TASS. Putin’s portrait was seen on almost every second lamppost along the way, and there were dozens of cars and motorcycles in the entourage with security guards lined up the route. Putin’s trip comes after Kim traveled to Russia in September, which as satellite imagery later showed was followed by a massive growth in arms transfers. Putin is in Pyongyang for the first time since he visited in 2000 as Russia’s president. He and Kim are scheduled to hold bilateral talks, including one-on-one, and the two sides will sign agreements, including on security and economic cooperation.