North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has assured President Vladimir Putin that Moscow's forces will win a "great victory" over its enemies, according to Russian news agencies.

"We are confident that the Russian army and people will certainly win a great victory in the holy struggle to punish the gathering of evil," Kim was quoted as saying.

Kim then spoke of the continuing war with Ukraine, saying: "I am deeply convinced that the heroic Russian army and nation will greatly inherit the tradition of victory and demonstrate priceless virtues and honour on the fronts of the special military operation."

Special military operation is how the Kremlin refers to the invasion of its neighbour.

According to Russian state news agency Ria Novosti, the talks between Kim Jong Un and President Vladimir Putin have finished and the North Korean leader has boarded his heavily armoured private train.

Image source, AFP

Vladimir Putin has raised his glass and toasted North Korea's Kim Jong Un during an official lunch at a summit that has been taking place in Russia.

Putin raised his glass and said: "A toast to the future strengthening of cooperation and friendship between our countries.

"For the well-being and prosperity of our nations, for the health of the chairman and all of those present."

Kim responded in kind saying: "I propose a toast to Putin's health."

Talks between the Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un will conclude on Wednesday, Russian state media TASS has reported - quoting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

China has given its reaction to the meeting between Russian President Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

China is one of North Korea's long-time allies and an economic benefactor.

Mao Ning, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman, said the visit "pertains to relations between North Korea and Russia."

She also described North Korea as China's "friendly neighbours connected by mountains and rivers", adding that currently "China-North Korea relations are developing well."

Kim has been very vocal about strengthening his country's relationship with Russia, saying earlier that bilateral ties with Putin is now his government's "number one priority".

Steve Rosenberg
BBC Russia editor

Image source, Reuters

Kim has said North Korea supports "all of Putin's decisions". Putin has been equally friendly with his North Korean counterpart, offering Kim a warm welcome at the Russian space centre.

But it's worth noting that Russia was never as close to Pyongyang as the Soviet Union was. This budding friendship is being forged in the geopolitical realities of 2023.

They do have a lot in common.

Both have been accused of becoming "rogue states", are under heavy international sanctions and dislike the US. Plus, they both have something the other needs; Russia needs North Korea's weapons and North Korea needs Russia's food.

So for now, Putin and Kim see potential benefits from a closer relationship.

Read more about what they both can get out of this friendship here.

Shin Won-sik, a ruling party lawmaker and retired three-star general, has been named as South Korea's new defence minister.

"[Shin] is the right person to... establish our security capability against North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats with plenty of experience in both defence policy and strategy," South Korea's presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki said.

Jean Mackenzie
Seoul correspondent

Image source, EPA

In return for selling weapons to Russia, Kim was expected to ask Putin to share advanced military technology, so he can make progress with his own weapons programme.

Moscow's weapons are thought to be decades ahead of Pyongyang's.

One of the areas where Kim is struggling to make progress is his space programme. He has tried to put a spy satellite into orbit twice in the past six months - and failed.

A spy satellite would give North Korea eyes in the sky on its enemies. It could use it to plot attacks more accurately and to monitor incoming threats.

Kim has made developing a spy satellite one of his key military priorities in the past few years.

Kim and Putin have ended their face-to-face meeting that lasted over two hours, Russian media report.

Now they're off to an official lunch comprising duck salad, crab dumplings, fish soup, sturgeon with mushrooms, and last of all, a berry dessert.

Kim and Putin's face-to-face talks at a Russian spaceport have just ended, but earlier today, the Kremlin stressed that UN sanctions on North Korea will not hinder its own ties with Pyongyang.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, when asked about longstanding sanctions against North Korea, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Russia maintains its position at the UN Security Council, but this cannot and will not hinder the further development of Russian-North Korean relations."

The United Nations has passed nearly a dozen resolutions sanctioning the North since its first nuclear test in 2006.

Some analysts have said the Russians could provide North Korea with high-end technology in exchange for artillery stock as a result of this meeting - this could mean a violation of the international sanctions regime.

Image source, Reuters

Putin and Kim's face-to-face meeting is over, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

Before the Kim-Putin talks commenced, Kim told reporters earlier today that North Korea will make bilateral ties with Russia its "number one priority", according to footage broadcast on Russian TV.

"We will prioritise the North Korea-Russia relationship and put it as the number one priority of our foreign policy from now on," he said.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

This space base in a far-flung corner in Russia has seen a flurry of activity today with the two leaders' meeting and senior delegations from both governments.

But what exactly is it?

The Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's far east came into service in 2016, nearly a decade after Putin first commissioned it as a space centre, and was hailed as a symbol of Russia's space exploration ambition.

Analysts say Russia's space programme has faced a host of challenges , externalsince the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, including the loss of key technologies, Western sanctions and widespread corruption.

Just last month, Luna-25, Russia's first lunar mission since 1976, crashed into the Moon after a failed orbital manoeuvre.

But North Korea may also want Russian tech for its own space programme. The North has twice failed to place a spy satellite in orbit.

Good morning to our readers in the UK and Europe. If you're just catching up on Kim's visit to Russia, here is what you need to know:

• Kim and Putin are now meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's far east
• Both leaders arrived at the spaceport early Wednesday afternoon, following which Putin showed Kim around the facilities at the site
• Asked if Russia will help the North build satellites, Putin said: "This is why we've come to Vostochny Cosmodrome"
• Both delegations include top diplomats and military commanders
• Asked whether the two will negotiate on an arms deal, Putin would only say that "all issues" are on the table

Stay with us as we bring you more updates.

Image source, Reuters

We've just got hold of a full translation of Kim and Putin's opening remarks when they addressed reporters earlier today at the Vostochny spaceport.

Putin said the two leaders will discuss issues related to "economic cooperation" and those of a "humanitarian nature".

"We have a lot of questions. I want to say that I am very glad to see you. Thank you for accepting the invitation and coming to Russia," he added

Speaking via a translator, Kim said Russia had "risen to a sacred fight" to protect its sovereignty and security.

"We will always support the decisions of President Putin and the Russian leadership... and we will be together in the fight against imperialism," Kim said.

The translated comments were distributed by Reuters news agency.

Image source, EPA

Earlier today, Putin showed Kim around the Russian spaceport, and the North Korean leader was seen signing the centre's visitor book.

We now have a clearer translation of what he wrote: "The glory to Russia, which gave birth to the first space conquerors, will be immortal."

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Kim and Putin are holding talks now, but here's some video of the moment when Kim arrived at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

His green train was allowed to roll onto the space site - where a red-carpeted staircase was placed for exactly where he would step out.

Kelly Ng
Reporting from Singapore

Image source, Reuters

Both the North Korean and Russian delegations include top diplomats and military commanders - an indication of the sort of negotiations that could take place between the two leaders.

Kim's entourage includes commander of the Korean People's Army Ri Pyong Chol, his number two, Pak Jong Chon, and Jo Chun Ryong, the director of North Korea's Munitions Industry Department.

As we've learnt today, his influential sister Kim Yo Jong has also travelled to Russia.

Meanwhile Putin has travelled a fair distance from Moscow, bringing with him Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

Image source, Reuters

Pictures by Russian media earlier showed that Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korea's leader, has also accompanied her brother to his meeting with Putin.

This year, she's regularly made headlines for her strident warnings against the US and South Korea and their millitary drills around the peninsula.

Kim Yo Jong is a very influential figure and works closely with her brother. She holds a senior position in the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.