North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has crossed the border into Russia where he is set to meet with Vladimir Putin and discuss a potential arms deal.
Russian state news agency Ria Novosti confirmed Kim’s train had entered the Primorsky region early on Tuesday, with images showing a train with dark green carriages being pulled along a track by a Russian Railways locomotive.
Kim will meet Putin in the Far East later this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Ria Novosti. Mr Peskov said the meeting would include a lunch in Kim’s honour.
“It will be a full-fledged visit,” Mr Peskov said.
“There will be negotiations between two delegations, and after that, if necessary, the leaders will continue their communication in a one-on-one format.”
Kim left Pyongyang for Russia on Sunday on his private train, accompanied by top arms industry and military officials and the foreign minister. The visit is the North Korean leader’s first trip abroad in four years.
Experts say Moscow would likely seek artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea, which wants advanced satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology in return.
Putin is currently in Vladivostok for an annual economic forum.
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