20 September 2024

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un said Wednesday that his country would make bilateral ties with Russia its “number one priority”, as he held a rare summit with President Vladimir Putin.

“We will prioritise the North Korea-Russia relationship and put it as the number one priority of our foreign policy from now on,” said Kim, who is in Russia visiting a space center with Putin, according to footage broadcast on Russian TV.

Kim also said his meeting with Putin was a “stepping stone” to stronger ties between the two countries.

“I believe my meeting with President Putin will serve as a stepping stone to raise the bilateral ties to a new high level,” Kim said in Korean, according to footage broadcast on Russian television.