![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/4951932.jpg?r=1694287363262\")
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Russian President Vladimir Putin called for closer ties with the hermit kingdom yesterday, amid US intelligence claims that he could meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the next few days.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am convinced that thanks to our joint efforts we will continue to strengthen\u2026 bilateral ties on all fronts,\u201d Putin said in a letter addressed to Kim, as North Korea celebrated the 75th anniversary of its foundation with a parade in Pyongyang.<\/p>\n
North Korea became the third nation, after Russia and Syria, to formally recognise the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk following Russia\u2019s invasion.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Slovakia election set to bring big headache for EU writes Jonathan Saxty<\/strong><\/p>\n And Kim has offered to supply cheap labour for the Donbas region. US intelligence sources said that Kim will travel by armoured train to Vladivostok, where he will discuss arms supplies to Russia with Putin.<\/p>\n Former defence secretary Ben Wallace reacted to the news on Tuesday by saying: \u201cAnd this is how it ends Mr Putin\u2026the once mighty Russia scrabbling around looking for friends and begging North Korea for weapons from the 1960s.\u201d<\/p>\n Experts agreed that, just like its relationship with Beijing, Moscow\u2019s relationship with Pyongyang was one in which Russia\u2019s place was clearly as the junior partner.<\/p>\n But they warned that \u201cvery rational\u201d Kim may exert a high price for his help.<\/p>\n \u201cThe circle has closed. In the 1980s North Korea was almost exclusively funded by the USSR and China,\u201d said Hans Horan, senior geopolitical analyst at Proximities strategic risk group.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, when the Soviet Union fell, and China was opening up to the world, North Korea experienced famine.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n \u201cHow things have changed.\u201d And Kim, who is used to diplomatic isolation and a prickly relationship with China, has every intention of making the most of his new-found status.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite what people may think, Kim is very opportunistic and very much rational. \u201cHis goal is regime preservation and keeping his side of the family in power. In doing this, he has always prioritised security apparatus over economic development or humanitarian aid,\u201d said Mr Horan.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is very likely that Kim will want Russian assistance to modernise his nuclear programme. \u201cRussia has a massive stockpile and the capability to miniaturise which North Korea, despite being a nuclear power, does not possess.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not an ideal scenario for Putin, but he would be in no position to say no,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/4951928.jpg?r=1694287363313\")
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