Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea and Vietnam in coming weeks. This was reported by Reuters, citing a diplomatic source.
The Russian ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, confirmed that the president's visit to Pyongyang will take place and is being actively prepared. Putin is expected to visit Vietnam this month, right after his visit to North Korea.
Putin and Kim may discuss whether Russia will accept migrant workers from North Korea. Russia is suffering from an acute labor shortage because of the war in Ukraine. Putin's only previous visit to North Korea was in 2000, the first year of his presidency.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia last September for talks with Putin. He visited Russia's Vostochny space launch center in the Far East. Putin, for his part, promised to help North Korea build satellites.
The Kremlin has repeatedly pointed out that Russia wants to build a partnership with North Korea in all areas. The date of Putin's visit to Pyongyang has not yet been confirmed.
Russia has strengthened ties with North Korea and other countries hostile to the United States, such as Iran, since the start of the war with Ukraine.