According to reports from the business newspaper Vedomosti, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to embark on visits to North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks. Citing Russian diplomats familiar with the matter, the newspaper disclosed that preparations are underway for the Kremlin leader’s travel to Pyongyang and subsequently to Vietnam.
Alexander Matsegora, Russia’s Ambassador to North Korea, affirmed to Vedomosti that he is actively preparing for Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, although no specific dates or purpose were disclosed. An unnamed diplomat mentioned in the report suggested that Putin will first travel to North Korea before continuing his journey to Vietnam.
When pressed for comments on the report, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov chose not to elaborate, stating that announcements would be made when appropriate.
Last month, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko had informed journalists about ongoing preparations for Putin’s visits to North Korea and Vietnam. The invitation for Putin’s visit to North Korea was extended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his rare trip to Russia’s Far East in September. During this visit, Moscow pledged support for North Korea’s space program, and Putin hinted at potential military cooperation with Pyongyang.
However, recent accusations from Western governments have alleged North Korea’s involvement in supplying weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, adding a layer of complexity to diplomatic relations.
Putin’s previous visit to North Korea dates back to 2000, during which he met with Kim Jong Il, the father of the current North Korean leader.
In parallel, Vietnamese media had earlier reported an invitation extended by Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, for Putin to visit the country this year. Putin’s last trip to Vietnam occurred in 2017.
Since beginning his fifth term as president in May, Putin has already made diplomatic visits to China, Belarus, and Uzbekistan, further underlining Russia’s ongoing diplomatic engagements in the region and beyond.