SEOUL: Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit North Korea, Pyongyang state media said on Thursday (Sep 14), as he and Kim Jong Un toasted "cooperation and friendship between our countries" during a meeting in Russia.
Kim is on a visit to Russia's far east, as Putin seeks to bolster alliances with other leaders ostracised by Western countries.
The North Korean leader is also due to oversee a display of Russian warships during his visit, Putin has said, to "demonstrate the capabilities of the Pacific Fleet".
Western allies have raised concerns of a possible arms agreement between Russia and North Korea, as Moscow's war in Ukraine grinds on.
After a meeting between the two leaders on Wednesday, "Kim Jong Un courteously invited Putin to visit the DPRK at a convenient time", according to the state-run KCNA news agency, which referred to the country by its official name.
"Putin accepted the invitation with pleasure and reaffirmed his will to invariably carry forward the history and tradition of the Russia-DPRK friendship."
Kim told Putin on Wednesday he was sure Russia would win a "great victory" over its enemies.