Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019. As the war in Ukraine stretches into its seventh month, North Korea is hinting at its interest in sending construction workers to help rebuild Russian-occupied territories in the country's east. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File)
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly started his journey to Vladivostok for a summit with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
The armoured train that Mr Kim uses for foreign visits appears to have departed Pyongyang, South Korean media reported citing a government official.
The meeting between the two leaders is expected to take place as early as Tuesday local time.
The Kremlin has confirmed that Mr Kim will visit Russia “in the coming days”.
If the summit with Mr Putin goes ahead, it will be the North Korean leader’s first international trip in more than four years, and the first since the pandemic.
The two leaders will likely discuss the possibility of North Korea providing Moscow with weapons to support its war in Ukraine, a US official earlier told CBS, the BBC’s US partner.
