Kim Jong Un has pledged his assist to Russia in what he has described because the "fight against imperialism".

The North Korean chief praised Russia and its president for a preventing a "sacred war" in opposition to "hegemonic forces" - regarded as a reference to the West.

"We will always support the decisions of President Putin and the Russian leadership ... and we will be together in the fight against imperialism," Mr Kim instructed Mr Putin by way of a translator.

Ukraine-Russia struggle newest: Putin and Kim conversation details emerge - as North Korean leader 'fires questions about rockets'

Mr Putin, in the meantime, listed financial cooperation, humanitarian points and the "situation in the region" among the many agenda gadgets for his or her talks.

It comes after the pair shook fingers as they met on the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia's largest home area launch centre.

The two leaders are holding talks - their first in particular person since 2019 - on the website in Siberia.

Mr Putin is believed to be looking for ammunition from closely militarised North Korea for his invasion of Ukraine - which he has himself in comparison with the conquests of Russia's former imperialist monarch, Peter the Great.

Kim Jong Un helps Putin's 'struggle in opposition to imperialism' - however Russia has its personal imperial ambitions

North Korea's chief has proven his assist for Russia's "fight against imperialism" - however Vladimir Putin has up to now lamented the lack of Russia's personal empire.

Spanning a lot of northern Eurasia between the early 1700s till the Soviet revolution in 1917, the Russian Empire was the third largest within the historical past of the world - behind solely the British and Mongol Empires when it comes to land mass.

The empire was based on the finish of the rule of Peter I, usually often called Peter the Great, who constructed it by way of a mix of reform, diplomacy and conquest.

Mr Putin has beforehand drawn comparisons between his personal presidency and the rule of Peter the Great.

Speaking after visiting an exhibition to rejoice the 350th anniversary of Peter's start final 12 months, the Russian president additionally drew a parallel to his invasion of Ukraine.

"Peter the Great waged the Great Northern War for 21 years," he mentioned.

"It would seem that he was at war with Sweden, he took something from them. He did not take anything from them, he returned [them]."

Referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine he mentioned: "Apparently, it also fell to us to return [what is Russia’s] and strengthen [the country]. And if we proceed from the fact that these basic values form the basis of our existence, we will certainly succeed in solving the tasks that we face."

Mr Putin additionally known as the collapse of the Russian Empire's communist successor, the USSR, the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century".

In a speech which appeared to try to justify his invasion of Ukraine, Mr Putin additionally lamented the lack of "territory of the former Russian Empire" throughout the fall of the Soviet Union.

Experts consider Mr Kim is looking for Russian technical help for his efforts to develop army reconnaissance satellites.

The assembly got here hours after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles towards the ocean, extending a extremely provocative run of North Korean weapons testing because the begin of 2022.

Mr Putin welcomed Mr Kim, who arrived on the facility in a limousine, having travelled from Pyongyang in his particular armoured prepare together with his influential sister Kim Yo Jong.

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Pak Thae Song, chairman of North Korea's area science and know-how committee, and navy Admiral Kim Myong Sik, who're each linked with North Korean efforts to accumulate spy satellites and nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines, additionally travelled within the delegation, in response to South Korea's Unification Ministry.

Mr Kim and Mr Putin shared a handshake that lasted about 40 seconds following the North Korean chief's arrival, with the Russian president saying he was "very glad to see" him.

During the tour of the area centre, Mr Kim peppered a Russian area official with questions concerning the rockets.

In August, North Korea's second try and launch a reconnaissance satellite tv for pc failed on account of an error within the booster's third stage, in response to the nation's state-controlled media.

In late May, a North Korean rocket carrying a spy satellite tv for pc additionally plunged into the ocean quickly after lift-off.

Asked whether or not Russia will assist North Korea construct satellites, Mr Putin was quoted by Russian state media as saying: "That's why we have come here."

"The DPRK leader shows keen interest in rocket technology. They're trying to develop space, too," he added.