Putin visits Kim in Pyongyang with weapons on the agenda

VLADIMIR PUTIN was arriving in North Korea today ahead of a meeting with its leader Kim Jong-un as he seeks continued military support for his invasion of Ukraine.

- Matt Watts

His visit to the capital Pyongyang, his first to the secretive and isolated state in 24 years, comes after he has become a pariah to the West since starting the full scale invasion over two years ago.

The leaders pledged to expand their security and economic co-operation in defiance of Western sanctions against both countries ahead of their meeting.

Putin thanked North Korea for supporting his actions in Ukraine and said their countries will co-operate closely to overcome the US-led sanctions. Putin's comments appeared in North Korean state media hours before he was expected to arrive for a two-day visit as the countries deepen their alignment in the face of separate confrontations with Washington.