Kim hails Russia ties ahead of likely Putin visit

SEOUL, June 12: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday hailed his countrys ties with Russia, saying the two nations were "invincible comrades-in-arms", amid reports President Vladimir Putin will visit Pyongyang imminently.

Kim made a rare overseas trip to meet Putin in Russias far east last year, with Seoul and Washington subsequently claiming Pyongyang was shipping weapons to Moscow for use in Ukraine, violating UN sanctions, in return for technical help with its satellite program.

Putin was expected to pay a return visit to North Korea in the coming days, after the Kremlin told Russian media in May that the trip was "being prepared".
South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported the visit could take place "as early as next week," as part of a tour that would also include a stop in     Vietnam.    —AFP