Russian President, Vladimir Putin has expressed his perception of North Korea as a steadfast ally in the fight against Western hegemony.

“Pyongyang has always been our committed and like-minded supporter, ready to confront the ambition of the collective West to prevent the emergence of a multipolar world order based on justice, mutual respect for sovereignty and consideration of each other’s interests,” he noted.

Putin’s comments appeared in an article in North Korean state media hours before his expected arrival for a two-day visit in the Asian country on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

Putin, who will be making his first trip to North Korea in 24 years, thanked North Korea for supporting his actions in Ukraine.

He stated that Moscow will continue to support Pyongyang in its fight for independence

He noted that Washington keeps setting obviously unacceptable requirements, while North Korea has repeatedly expressed its intention to resolve all the existing differences by peaceful means.

“Russia has incessantly supported and will support the DPRK[People’s Republic of Korea] and the heroic Korean people in their struggle against the treacherous, dangerous and aggressive enemy, in their fight for independence, identity and the right to freely choose their development path,” Putin stressed.

Putin also said that Russia and North Korea will develop trade and payment systems “that are not controlled by the West” and jointly oppose sanctions against the countries, which he described as “illegal, unilateral restrictions.”

North Korea is under heavy U.N. Security Council economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons and missile programs, while Russia is also under sanctions by the United States and its Western partners over its aggression in Ukraine.

Putin added that the countries will also expand cooperation in tourism, culture and education.

Putin’s visit comes amid growing concerns about an arms arrangement in which Pyongyang provides Moscow with badly needed munitions to fuel Russia’s war in Ukraine in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that would enhance the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear weapons and missile program.

U.S. and South Korean officials say military, economic and other exchanges between North Korea and Russia have sharply increased since Kim met Putin in September in the Russian Far East, their first since 2019.

U.S. and South Korean officials accuse the North of providing Russia with artillery, missiles and other military equipment for use in Ukraine, possibly in return for key military technologies and aid.

Both Pyongyang and Moscow deny accusations about North Korean weapons transfers, which would violate multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions that Russia previously endorsed.

Along with China, Russia has provided political cover for Kim’s continuing efforts to advance his nuclear arsenal, repeatedly blocking U.S.-led efforts to impose fresh U.N. sanctions on the North over its weapons tests.

After North Korea, the Kremlin said that Putin will also visit Vietnam on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, and Thursday, June 20, 2024, for talks that are expected to be focused on trade.

U.S Concerned About Moscow and Pyongyang’s Relationship

John Kirby, Spokesperson of the U.S. National Security Council, said that the deepening relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang is concerning, “not just because of the impacts it’s going to have on the Ukrainian people, because we know North Korean ballistic missiles are still being used to hit Ukrainian targets, but because there could be some reciprocity here that could affect security on the Korean Peninsula.”

“We haven’t seen the parameters of all of that right now, certainly haven’t seen it come to fruition. But we’re certainly going to be watching that very, very closely,” he said.

Lim Soosuk, spokesperson of South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, also said that Seoul has been stressing to Moscow that any cooperation between Russia and North Korea must not “proceed in a direction that violates U.N. Security Council resolutions or undermines peace and stability in the region.”

Meanwhile, Leif-Eric Easley, a Professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, opined, “For Kim Jong-un, this visit is a victory.”

The Professor added, “Not only does the summit upgrade North Korea’s status among countries standing against the U.S.-led international order, it also helps bolster Kim’s domestic legitimacy.