Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un today met at Vostochny Cosmodrome space centre in Russia. Kim Jong Un offered his country's full and unconditional support for Russia’s sacred fight to defend its security interests.

This was an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine, he said Pyongyang will always stand with Moscow on the anti-imperialist front. He also called North Korea’s relations with Russia the first priority.

The summit between the leaders of the two countries, is being watched closely by Washington and allies. The summit kicked off just hours after Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles to the country’s east.

Kim’s visit comes as Russia is seeking to buy artillery ammunition from North Korea for its invasion of Ukraine, while Kim is seeking Russian technical assistance for his efforts to develop military reconnaissance satellites. In recent months, North Korea has repeatedly failed to put its first military spy satellite into orbit.  

Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in Russia yesterday, on his heavily-armored private train along with his top arms industry and military officials as well as the foreign minister.

Washington and its allies have been voicing concern at recent signs of closer military cooperation between Russia and the nuclear-armed North Korea.  

This is Kim's first trip abroad in four years and his second summit with Putin, after they met in 2019.