President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit North Korea and Vietnam in the upcoming weeks, as confirmed by Russian diplomats knowledgeable about the situation, as reported by Breaking-News.ca citing Vedomosti newspaper.
The Russian Ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, revealed to the newspaper that he is actively making arrangements for the Kremlin leader’s visit to Pyongyang, although he did not specify a precise date or purpose for the trip. A diplomat quoted by Vedomosti stated that Putin will first visit North Korea before proceeding to Vietnam.
When questioned by journalists on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov chose not to comment on the report, simply stating that appropriate announcements will be made when the time is right. Last month, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko informed the media that preparations were being made for Putin’s visit to North Korea and Vietnam.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un extended an invitation for Putin to visit his country in September following a rare trip to Russia’s Far East. During the visit, Moscow pledged assistance for North Korea’s emerging space program, while Putin expressed interest in potential military collaboration with Pyongyang.
A potential military alliance between Putin and North Korea is said to be being explored and Putin’s trip to North Korea could pave the way for discussions on military collaboration between the two nations.
UPDATE:
🇷🇺🇰🇵Vladimir #Putin arrived on a friendly state visit in the capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Pyongyang.#RussiaDPRK pic.twitter.com/in1F9Mre9G
— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) June 18, 2024
