KCNA/Reuters
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un ride in an Orus car in Pyongyang, North Korea.
CNN
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were seen laughing as they drove around each other in a Russian-made limousine during their first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years.
In footage released by North Korea's state media agency KCNA on Thursday, the two dictators are seen enjoying each other's company as they travel in an Auris luxury car. The carefully choreographed moment shows Putin first taking a turn in the driving seat while Kim sits in the passenger seat, before the two switch positions.
The photos are designed to highlight the close relationship between the leaders, who say they have taken the relationship to a “new level” during a rare visit by the Russian president this week.
North Korea and Russia signed a new defense pact during the visit, pledging to use all available means to provide immediate military support in the event of an attack on the other.
The agreement, which comes against the backdrop of Putin's grinding war against Ukraine, is the most significant agreement signed by Russia and North Korea in decades and is a continuation of the 1961 Cold War-era mutual defense pact. Seen as a restoration. It also strengthens the Kim government's powerful ties to a world power that wields veto power in the UN Security Council.
On Wednesday, Putin presented Kim with an Auris car as the pair exchanged gifts, according to Russian state media – the second time the Kremlin leader has given his counterpart this car model. According to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov, the Russian leader also presented Kim with a tea set.
KCNA/AP
The two dictators were seen enjoying each other's company as they traveled in an Auris luxury car.
KCNA footage showed Putin receiving a pair of local Pungsan hunting dogs in return – the same breed Kim gave to former South Korean President Moon Jae-in in 2018 in a breakthrough in the two countries' ties. was
Putin's visit has been a very public display of the strong ties between Russia and North Korea, whose alignment has been deepened by a shared hostility toward the West.
The Russian leader arrived in North Korea early Wednesday morning local time, exactly 24 years to the day since he was last in Pyongyang, amid international concerns over the two countries' military cooperation.
During the visit, the two leaders announced a new strategic partnership due to Moscow's need for weapons in its war in Ukraine.
KCNA/Reuters
According to Russian state media, when the two leaders exchanged gifts, Putin gave Kim an Oris – the second time Putin has given his counterpart the car model.
In remarks ahead of talks between the two, Kim expressed his “full support and solidarity with the struggle of the Russian government, military and people”, pointing in particular to Moscow's war in Ukraine as “a violation of its sovereignty”. , to protect security and regional stability.”
Putin, for his part, praised the countries' relationship based on “equality and mutual respect”.
The escalating ties have raised concerns in both Seoul and Washington, not only over North Korea's transfer of weapons to Russia, but also over Moscow's use of its advanced military technology to aid Pyongyang's heavily sanctioned weapons program. Transfer possibilities too.
After a visit to North Korea, Putin arrived in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi as he continues efforts to boost economic ties with friendly nations amid Western isolation.