Expected Visit of Putin to North Korea and Vietnam

A news report stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming days. It is expected that Putin will travel to Pyongyang later this month at the earliest, before visiting Hanoi, according to the Russian daily "Vedomosti." If realized, this would be a reciprocal visit by the Russian president after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un traveled to the far east of Russia in September of last year to hold a summit with Putin. This visit will also mark Putin's first trip to North Korea in 24 years. North Korea and Russia have been increasingly working to strengthen military relations and expand cooperation since the leaders' summit.