growing importance. a warm welcome from the north korean leader, two men shunned by much of the world, united in defiance of the west, each bearing a shopping list, their embrace a source of deep anxiety in washington. deepening cooperation between russia and the dprk is a trend which should be of great concern to anyone interested in maintaining peace and stability in the korean peninsula, upholding the global non proliferation regime, abiding by the un security council resolutions and supporting the people of ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence. for vladimir putin, it s all about the war in ukraine. the russian economy may already be on a war footing, but mr putin needs every artillery shell and rocket he can get. north korea is a willing supplier, helping russia to outgun ukraine. before arriving, putin is to kim jong un for firmly supporting the war. north korea, the regime, shows little regard for human life, even the lives of its own people. so i would
what is the latest on this visit, what kind of welcome has president putin received? fix, president putin received? very warm welcome, it was very late into the night, you could say early morning, pyongyang time when bled vladimir putin touchdown for the first time in more than two decades and there on the tarmac to warmly welcome one of staunchest supporters, kim jong un the leader of north korea. official guard stood at attention at the airport on the runway as the two leaders embraced and smiled, then they walked down the red carpet lined with red roses and then onto a waiting motorcade. this took them through the streets and motorways of pyongyang, that were lined with vladimir putin s huge posters, banners welcoming the russian leader and also russian flags all along the motorway. it is not just about red roses and red carpet that welcome and the photo ops these two leaders will get, the president is going to have a busy day ahead of him, a tea party is on the cards,
with their chins held at an extraordinary angle. a woman in traditional dress and a bouquet of flowers waits to deliver it to the visiting russian leader. all the while, the north korean leader paces up and down here s mr putin coming down the steps to greet his host at the bottom there s a handshake, a hug and an air kiss. it all seems very cordial as the translators move in for the pleasantries. eventually the flower lady gets to present her blooms to the russian president there s a slightly awkward bow, but it all seems to go down well. then, after a bit more chit chat they re off. they ve lots to talk about presumably after some sleep. here s our diplomatic correspondent paul adams. vladimir putin s first trip to pyongyang in almost a quarter of a century a measure of this relationship s growing importance. a warm welcome from the north korean leader, two men shunned by much of the world, united in defiance of the west, each bearing a shopping list, their embrace