Pact with North Korea will protect us both from aggression, says Putin
With updates from Shaimaa Khalil and Jake Kwon in Seoul, Laura Bicker in Beijing, Ben Tavener in Moscow, Jean Mackenzie in Ukraine and Ayeshea Perera, Yvette Tan, Frances Mao, Kelly Ng and Fan Wang in Singapore
Related Video and Audio
RTL
Live Reporting
Edited by Flora Drury
All times stated are UK
Russia is North Korea's 'most honest friend' - Kim
Kim has also called Russia "the most honest friend and ally", and referred to Putin "the dearest friend of the Korean people", according to a report by state agency RIA.
BreakingSigned pact provides for 'mutual help' in case of 'aggression'
Russia and North Korea have signed an agreement that provides for "mutual help" in the event of "aggression" against either of them, Russian state media cited Putin as saying.
The Russian president also called Pyongyang's position on Ukraine "another proof of its sovereign policy".
If Kim goes to Moscow, how will he get there?
Jake Kwon
Reporting from Seoul
Putin has invited Kim to Moscow for their next meeting - but if Kim accepts the invitation, how will he get there?
Kim’s two previous journeys on rail to Vladivostok in Russia's far east took about 20 hours each. Moscow is more than nine times further than Vladivostok - so it would take him at least eight days by train.
And in fact his father, Kim Jong Il, who reportedly had a great fear of flying - did take a train to Moscow in 2001 to meet Putin - a journey that took him ten days.
But Kim Jong Un seems slightly less averse to air travel than his father. In 2018 he flew on a Chinese plane to meet the then US President Trump in Singapore.
But it's also possible that Kim will never take up Putin’s offer.
North Korean leaders rarely travel outside of their country. Even rarer do they take trips beyond China and as far into Russia as Moscow. Watchers have speculated that the reluctance is due to fear of possible rebellion at home or assassination while traveling outside.
Read more here.
Watch: Lavish welcome ceremony for Putin
If you're just tuning in now, here are the highlights of the lavish ceremony Pyongyang put up to welcome Putin in his first visit to North Korea in 24 years:
Video content
Meeting is 'bad news for rest of world': Ex-CIA analyst says
As we've been reporting, America has accused Russia of turning to North Korea for military equipment during Moscow's war in Ukraine.
For one former CIA analyst, Putin's visit to Pyongyang highlights how two "pariah states" are cementing their ties despite their isolation from the international community.
"I think it is pretty pathetic that Putin has to resort to relying on [the] 198th ranked economy in the world to help his war effort," Sue Mi Terry told BBC News earlier.
"It's all around bad news for the rest of the world," Terry continued, highlighting concerns that the partnership was allowing North Korea to effectively test its weaponry.
But Terry, who is now a director at the Wilson Center think tank, said the partnership might only last as long as Russia's invasion of its neighbour. It could prove to be little more than a "marriage of convenience for the time being", she suggested.
A depleted economy puts up a lavish welcome for Putin
Shaimaa Khalil
Reporting from Seoul
North Korea - a country that doesn’t get many state visits - put on a show worthy of a rare visit by an important ally.
Putin’s trip was marked in all the pomp and circumstance you’d expect. Red carpets, red roses, the guard of honour at attention on the tarmac as the two leaders smiled and hugged when Kim received Putin in the early hours of Wednesday.
Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung square was buzzing with crowds, colour and choreography - with stallions, balloons and huge posters of the two leaders adorning the surrounding buildings during the welcome ceremony. There’s also a tea party and a gala concert expected later this evening.
This lavish welcome comes as heavily-sanctioned North Korea has been suffering from shortages of food, fuel and power, and a depleted economy made much worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet Pyongyang seems to have spared no cost for this visit - in the hope of course that it would eventually pay off.
Putin gifts Kim luxury car, dagger and tea set
Putin has presented Kim with a Russian luxury Aurus car, an admiral's dagger, and a tea set, Russian state media have reported, citing presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
Ushakov did not elaborate on the signficance of this combination of gifts, but said they are "related to the image" of the Russian president.
This is not the first time Putin has gifted Kim an Aurus car - he last presented him an Aurus limousine in February, though it is not clear which model he has given him this time.
Russia wasn't North Korea's priority until now
Laura Bicker
China correspondent
When Kim Jong Un decided to venture out of North Korea and hold a whirlwind of diplomatic summits in 2019, he met Vladimir Putin only once. Back then his wide smiles, hugs and handshakes were for the South Korean president Moon Jae-in. They met three times. He exchanged “love letters” with the then US President Donald Trump before their three meetings – a man he once called a “dotard” suddenly became “special”. He also held three summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Russia has now emerged as the star of the hour, seemingly eclipsing Beijing.
Moscow and Pyongyang may sign new defence agreements, but how long and how quickly can Pyongyang keep supplying this ammunition under strict sanctions?
Analysts also believe Russia and North Korea have different operating systems. Pyongyang’s weapon systems are low-quality and growing old. And Kim Jong Un needs to keep some supplies for himself as he has a front of his own to maintain. So any talk of a “bromance” is premature.
Putin and Kim talked one-on-one for two hours - report
Putin and Kim's one-on-one talks lasted about two hours, Reuters reported, citing Russian news agencies.
Before that, their respective delegations held group talks lasting an hour and a half.
BreakingKim and Putin sign new partnership deal - Russian media
Russian media RIA is reporting that the two leaders have signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement.
This was flagged yesterday by Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov who briefed Russian media that a deal could be signed, that could include security issues.
It's not clear what's in the deal as of yet but we'll bring you more details as we get it.
What's still on the agenda for Putin?
Kim and Putin have been in meetings these last hours.
But we understand there are still a few events left on the agenda, including a gala concert at a sports centre and a visit to the only Orthodox church in North Korea.
Vietnam gets ready for Putin
Over in Hanoi, the northern Vietnamese city where Putin is headed after Pyongyang, officials and businesses are getting ready for the Russian president's visit.
Putin is expected to leave North Korea for Vietnam later today. Here's a look at the preparations going on there.
Putin known to keep other leaders waiting
Putin's arrival in North Korea in the early hours of the morning - 03:00 - was several hours later than expected.
We don't know when exactly Putin was supposed to arrive - initial reports had suggested Tuesday evening local time - but he has a reputation for often being late to meetings with world leaders, with his tardiness seen as a sign of how much respect he accords the other party.
Previously he has been more than four hours late to a meeting with the former German leader Angela Merkel, three hours late to a meeting with former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, 80 minutes late to a UN General Assembly and 50 minutes late for a meeting with Pope Francis. China's President Xi Jinping is one leader he has not kept waiting.
An older piece from the BBC records this pattern of his, even a decade ago.
Putin in North Korea: 2000 vs 2024
It's been 24 years since Putin last visited Pyongyang.
Here are some pictures from the Russian president's visit today and his last visit in July 2000, when he met with Kim Jong Un's father Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Il served as North Korea's leader until his death in 2011.
Kyiv to use Putin-Kim visit to pressure South Korea
Jean Mackenzie
Reporting from Ukraine
Given the delay Ukraine has just experienced receiving ammunition from the US, it is troubled that Russia has a partner that is able to supply it with vast amounts of shells.
Throughout the war, Ukraine has urged South Korea to supply it with ammunition and other weapons. Like the North, South Korea has a huge stockpile of shells, and is also a major arms producer. But Seoul has so far clung to an official policy it has not to arm countries at war.
It has been fearful of provoking Moscow - worried Putin might retaliate by helping Kim Jong Un improve his nuclear weapons and missiles. Although not publicly stated, this is a red line for South Korea.
Some in Ukraine hope that as Putin and Kim increase their military cooperation, it might cause Seoul to rethink its approach. Kyiv will certainly use this trip to up its pressure.
But unless Russia crosses its red line, South Korea is unlikely to start directly supplying Ukraine with the weapons it wants.
Massive street parade and dances held for the leaders
We've just seen footage of the two leaders parading through the streets from the sunroof of a motor vehicle.
That followed about 10 minutes of different mass-choreographed groups performing dances and songs, as well as the roll-out of a military ensemble performing a 21-gun salute.
It's unclear if the newly released visuals are from the welcome ceremony earlier this morning. We'll bring you more on this as we get it.
If you're just joining us now
It's just past 07:30 in London and 15:30 in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, where Putin's visit is ongoing. Here's what you need to know to bring you up to speed:
Putin and Kim hold one-on-one meeting
Russian state media are now reporting that the two leaders have entered their own discussions
Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov told Tass news agency the two would be discussing "the most important and sensitive issues".
Putin 'really happy' about meeting
Putin highlighted the decades-long friendship between the two countries at today's talks.
He started by saying he was "really happy" about the meeting and "hoped the next one [would] take place in Moscow", according to a video feed of the opening remarks provided by news agency AFP.
He also added that their friendship was formed in complicated times, adding that they had overcome obstacles and struggled together - referencing the help provided by Soviet pilots during the Korean War.
He then went on to thank North Korea's support of Russia's policies, including the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine invasion changed Putin’s approach to North Korea - analysts
North Korea is often seen as a pariah state, closed off from the world. But for decades it’s had deep, though turbulent, relations with Russia and China.
North Korea’s relationship with Russia had receded in the years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, North Korea watcher Jean Lee tells the BBC's The Global Story podcast.
Pyongyang had become “almost entirely dependent” on China for 90% of its trade in recent decades, she says.
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed Putin’s approach to North Korea.
Christian Davies, the Financial Times' Seoul Correspondent says, "North Korea doesn’t do many things well. But they can build weapons, they can build them at scale and they take war very seriously.”
China will be watching developments between Kim and Putin carefully, Lee adds. “North Korea tries to play one neighbour off against each other. They curry favour with one leader at the expense and anxiety of another.”
Find out more on The Global Story podcast.