North Korea rolls out the red carpet for Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin received a grand welcome in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday amid concerns from Western officials about the growing relationship between the two nuclear-armed countries.

North Korean state television showed the two leaders warmly embracing on a red carpet outside Pyongyang International Airport after Putin landed around 2:45 a.m. local time, kicking off his first visit there in 24 years.

The state television report showed the two leaders leaving together in a car, as well as images of Pyongyang's streets lined with flags, banners and posters promoting Putin and relations with Russia.

During their first meeting, Russian and North Korean leaders shared their “pent thoughts” and agreed to further develop relations between their countries, state media KCNA reported.

The official newspaper of North Korea's ruling party reported on Tuesday that Putin had praised Kim Jong Un's leadership and pledged to help develop trade and strengthen security across Eurasia. The article added that he supports the DPRK's opposition to its “dangerous and aggressive” enemies.

Ahead of the trip, which was expected to last two days, Russian officials had also indicated the countries could sign a “comprehensive strategic partnership” amid growing ties.

Western countries – which impose heavy sanctions on both Russia and North Korea – have been closely watching developments in the visit and the possible consequences for Russia's war in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this to a NATO spokesperson joint press conference On Tuesday, he said Putin's trip “confirms the very close cooperation between Russia and authoritarian states such as North Korea,” as well as China and Iran. Stoltenberg delivered the remarks alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

U.S. officials have claimed that Pyongyang has supplied Russia with dozens of ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 containers of ammunition for the war in Ukraine and that Putin could use his trip to lobby for more weapons.

“We are of course also concerned about the potential support that Russia provides to North Korea in terms of supporting their missile and nuclear programs,” Stoltenberg said.

Senior Vice President for Asia and Korea Victor Cha, chairman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed Wednesday that North Korean arms supplies to Russia could be met through the Kremlin's support for its nuclear program.

“The question is how much Putin thinks he needs the ammunition from North Korea to survive and win the war,” Cha said. “That could lower the bar for what he's willing to give to North Korea, especially if Kim makes a tough deal.”

Early last year, Kim ordered the “exponential” expansion of his country's nuclear arsenal and the development of more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported.

“The number one supplier for that [expansion] will most likely be Russia,” Cha said. “For the United States, this is a real problem… The war in Ukraine is about the best thing that could have happened to Kim Jong Un.”

The White House has warned that any Russian assistance to North Korea's weapons programs could have consequences for South Korea.

On Tuesday, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told a news conference that growing ties between Russia and North Korea “should be of great interest to anyone interested in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

However, Cha said the United States may be limited in its ability to slow the flow of weapons between Russia and Korea without the risk of direct war.

“[The Biden administration] is giving it more public attention, but on the policy side I don't really see any signs of what they're trying to do in this regard,” he said.