Putin in N Korea visit

RUSSIA'S President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea for supporting his actions in Ukraine and said the two countries will coclosely to operate overcome United States-led sanctions, as he arrived in Pyongyang yesterday for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Putin's comments appeared in North Korean state media hours before he arrived for a two-day visit, as the countries deepen their alignment in the face of separate, intensifying confrontations with Washington.

Putin, who will be making his first visit to North Korea in 24 years, said he highly appreciates its firm support of his invasion of Ukraine. He said the countries would continue to "resolutely oppose" what he described as Western ambitions "to hinder the establishment of a multi-polarised world order based on mutual respect for justice".