Putin authored an article in the Nodong Sinmun newspaper on the eve of his visit to North Korea. In it, Putin allegedly thanked North Koreans for Russia's support in the war against Ukraine and complained about Western sanctions.
"We highly appreciate the DPRK's firm support for Russia's Special military operation in Ukraine, solidarity with us on key international issues, and readiness to uphold common priorities and views on the platform of the United Nations," Putin's alleged article for North Korea's Nodong Sinmun newspaper reads.
The Russian dictator also complained about new Western sanctions. The US, along with its allies, intends to contain and isolate Russia through sanctions, he said.
"[The U.S. along with its allies] are trying to wear down our economy with more and more sanctions, to provoke the growth of socio-political tensions inside the country. But no matter how hard they try, all their attempts to contain and isolate Russia have failed," Putin wrote in the article.
Putin is expected to arrive in North Korea for a state visit on the evening of June 18. He arrives at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, who visited Russia last September.
This will be Putin's second visit to the DPRK as president. The first time he visited the country was in 2000 at the invitation of then North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and NATO have expressed concern over the rapprochement between Russia and the DPRK.
"We know that North Korean ballistic missiles are still being used to strike Ukrainian targets. This could provide a known moment of engagement that has the potential to affect security on the Korean Peninsula," said John Kirby, coordinator of strategic communications at the US National Security Council.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Putin's visit to North Korea demonstrates "how dependent he is on authoritarian leaders".
Meanwhile, North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, is preparing for the Kremlin dictator's visit. Putin's portraits and banners with the inscriptions "Welcome Putin!" and "Long live the inviolable friendship and unity between the peoples of the two countries - Korea and Russia!" have been hung on every pole on the way from the airport.
