Russia is conducting military exercises in the Pacific Ocean on the very day Putin leaves for North Korea
Russia started conducting military naval maneuvers in the Pacific Ocean, with anti-submarine warfare and anti-air strike exercises, the Russian Defense Ministry announced. The announcement comes in the context in which the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, will be in North Korea on Tuesday, in a visit that aims to establish an even closer relationship between the two dictatorships.
President Putin also vowed support for Pyongyang's efforts to defend its interests despite what he called "US pressure, blackmail and military threats", in the article printed in Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's ruling party mouthpiece, BBC reports.
He said the two countries would continue to “resolutely oppose” what he described as Western ambitions “to hinder the establishment of a multipolarised world order based on mutual respect for justice".
The United States said it was concerned about the "deepening relationship between these two countries".
The Kremlin has described the event as a “friendly state visit” with Russian media reporting Mr Putin and Mr Kim may sign a partnership agreement, including on security issues, and will give joint statements to the media.
