Vladimir Putin has commended North Korea for its support of Russia’s war in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has commended North Korea for its support of Russia’s war in Ukraine as he prepares to travel to Pyongyang to seek continued military backing from one of the world’s most isolated nations.

In his first visit to North Korea since 2000, Putin will engage in one-on-one talks with Kim Jong-un, with both leaders aiming to enhance their security and economic cooperation despite Western sanctions against their countries.

According to Agence France-Presse, Putin is expected to arrive in North Korea late on Tuesday, accompanied by a large entourage of government ministers and advisers, including his new defense minister, Andrey Belousov, and Denis Manturov, his top deputy prime minister overseeing the defense sector.

In an article for North Korea’s Central News Agency, Putin lauded North Korea for “firmly supporting” Moscow’s war in Ukraine and expressed his intent to elevate relations with Pyongyang to a higher level.

“The program is very full,” said Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. “A considerable amount of time will be dedicated to informal contacts between the leaders, as these negotiations will address the most important and sensitive questions.”

This trip marks a rare international journey for Putin, who has limited his travel to friendly countries since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and becoming the subject of an international criminal court arrest warrant for the mass deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.