NHK Japan: "Putin Coordinating North Korea Visit Early Next Week"

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on the 12th, citing multiple diplomatic sources including senior Russian government officials, that Russian President Vladimir Putin is coordinating to visit North Korea early next week.

President Putin's visit to North Korea is expected to be officially announced soon.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

If President Putin makes this visit, it will be his first visit in 24 years since July 2000. During the North Korea-Russia summit last September, President Putin accepted an invitation from North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un to visit Pyongyang.

Earlier, Russian media Vedomosti reported on the 10th (local time) that President Putin plans to visit North Korea and Vietnam this month.

NHK interpreted the background of President Putin's visit to North Korea as Russia, facing a shortage of weapons amid the prolonged war in Ukraine, aiming to further strengthen military ties with North Korea. It also added that North Korea appears to hope for technical support in fields such as military and space.

According to NHK, arrangements are also being made for President Putin to visit Vietnam around late next week. The media stated that there is a possibility that President Putin will visit North Korea and Vietnam consecutively.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.