As Vladimir Putin kicks off his visit to North Korea, both Moscow and Pyongyang hope his talks with Kim Jong Un will reinforce the relationship between the two countries as they find themselves ostracized by large parts of the world.
The talks are expected to produce a number of both economic and military initiatives. Analysts warn that some of the agreements — especially those on the exchange of weapons and advanced missile and satellite technology — are likely to be kept under wraps.
Beyond those deals, however, both sides are just as eager to put on a grand display of statesmanship. Kim Jong Un is desperate to burnish has credentials as a significant world leader, and satellite images of the North Korean capital are showing lavish preparations for Putin's arrival in downtown Pyongyang. Putin, for his part, wants to demonstrate that Russia still has friends and allies and that he is free to travel overseas, despite UN sanctions and international arrest warrants issued against him by the International Criminal Court over Russian troops allegedly abducting children in Ukraine.
"The list of countries willing to welcome Putin is shorter than ever, but for Kim Jong Un, this visit is a victory," said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. "Not only does the summit upgrade North Korea's status among countries standing against the US-led international order, it also helps bolster Kim's domestic legitimacy."
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