Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to visit Pyongyang soon, North Korea's state media KCNA said on Sunday (January 21, 2024).

According to KCNA as quoted by TASS news agency, North Korea "warmly welcomes President Putin to visit Pyongyang and is ready to greet the Korean people's closest friend with the greatest sincerity."

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated earlier that the dates of Putin’s possible visit to North Korea were being coordinated via diplomatic channels, the Russian news agency reported.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Russia last week and met Putin and  Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia last year.

He met Putin at the Vostochny Spaceport on Sept 13.

During his visit to Russia, Kim also visited the Gagarin Aviation Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the Knevichi Airport, and the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate.

The USA earlier this month claimed North Korea supplied ballistic missiles and launchers to Russia.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during a press briefing: " Our information indicates that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several [dozen] ballistic missiles."

He said Russia used them during the ongoing conflict against Ukraine.

"This is a significant and concerning escalation in the DPRK’s support for Russia," Kirby said.

"Now, in return for its support, we assess that Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Russia, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials, and other advanced technologies. This would have concerning security implications for the North — I’m sorry — for the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region," he said.

Russia, however, denied the collaboration.