VLADIMIR Putin has started his journey to North Korea for a two-day summit with dictator Kim Jong-un.
The Russian tyrant, who will be visiting the rogue state for the first time in 24 years, has thanked Pyongyang for their support of his brutal and illegal war in Ukraine.
Sky NewsPutin is heading to North Korea for a two-day summit[/caption]
AFPPutin shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2002 on his last visit to the rogue state[/caption]
The pair are expected to reinforce their strong ties after vowing to forge a “New World Order”.
Ahead of his planned visit, Putin pledged his support for North Korea in a letter published by state media on Tuesday.
In the letter, he thanked the rogue state for supporting his so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.
And he promised to help defend North Korea’s interests despite what he called “US pressure, blackmail and military threats”.
North Korea has agreed to further strategic and tactical cooperation with Russia in recent months as both countries ramp up a united front against the United States.
In January Kim sent delegates to Moscow following the North Korean leader’s own trip there in September last year.
In September, Putin and Kim vowed to fight a “sacred” battle against the West and said they would triumph against “evil” after a summit in Russia.
One of the few world leaders openly supporting Putin’s war, Kim is attempting to break out of diplomatic isolation.
He is trying to regain his footing as he navigates a worsening nuclear stalemate with Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years after Kim in recent months used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a distraction to ramp up his weapons tests and military demonstrations.
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