Putin's Rare Visit to North Korea: Strengthening Ties with Kim Jong Un

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea on June 18-19, marking an extremely rare trip that highlights Moscow's growing partnership with the reclusive state. This visit comes after an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Putin last visited Pyongyang in July 2000.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea on June 18-19, the Kremlin said on Monday, an extremely rare trip that underscores Moscow's burgeoning partnership with the reclusive nuclear-armed state.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un extended an invite to Putin during a visit to Russia's Far East last September. Putin has not visited Pyongyang since July 2000. "At the invitation of the Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin will pay a friendly state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on June 18-19," the Kremlin said.

After North Korea, Putin will visit Vietnam on June 19-20, the Kremlin said.