Putin visits North Korea 'likely on the 18th', Arrives in Vietnam on the 19th, Pyongyang ‘prepared for the event’
As Russian President Putin's visit to North Korea was compressed to the 18th and 20th, preparations for a large event in downtown Pyongyang were captured in satellite photos.
A Vietnamese official told Reuters that President Putin's visit was planned for the 19th and 20th, and Reuters reported on the 11th that "it has not yet been confirmed," due to the absence of official confirmation from Russia.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 12th that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said in a message to President Vladimir Putin that his country is an "invincible comrade in arms" with Russia, raising speculation that President Putin's visit to North Korea is imminent, Reuters reported.
Reuters went on to say, “North Korean officials in charge of public security are scheduled to visit Russia this week.”
Based on a satellite photo of Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang dated the 11th, “two large square-shaped structures were captured aligned on the north side of the square, and a large white structure about 100 meters long, long enough to fill an entire side of the square, on the south side.” The Voice of America (VOA) reported on the 11th.
VOA said, “This is a place where a military band or a podium is made for people to stand when a large-scale event is held at Kim Il-sung Square.” It is observed that large white structures were piled up right in front of it, and on the 9th, they were built right next to the podium in the square. “Based on the disappearance of the white object in front, it is presumed that the structure or equipment was moved to prepare for something.”
Planet Labs' satellite photo of Kim Il-sung Square on the 9th showed a white object that had never been seen before right in front of the podium of the square for the first time, and white structures were also seen near the Cabinet Building on the north side of the square and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade building on the south side. It was confirmed that they were lined up.
Russia's Vedomosti newspaper reported on the 10th, citing diplomatic sources, that President Putin is scheduled to visit North Korea and Vietnam within a few weeks, and that the trip could take place as early as this month (June).
VOA said on the 11th, “North Korea has been detecting the situation of vehicles and personnel gathering and training in the vacant lot of the military parade training ground north of Mirim Airport in Pyongyang for at least a month ahead of the military parade, but there is currently no related movement.”
The Korean Central News Agency said on the 11th that Chairman Kim said that his meeting with President Putin at a Russian space launch facility last year to mark Russia's National Day had elevated the bonds of the two countries' "100-year-old strategic relationship," Reuters reported.
Reuters went on to report that “Pyongyang and Moscow have been increasingly strengthening their diplomatic and security ties in recent months, including hosting governments, parliaments and other delegations.”
NK News reported on the 11th that the Russian Embassy in North Korea announced that a delegation led by Vice Minister of Social Security Lee Seung-chul would visit Russia on the 10th.
At the opening ceremony of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on the 5th, President Putin was asked by representatives of the world's major news agencies, 'How will we manage Korea-Russia relations in the current geopolitical environment?', saying, "We will work with the Korean government." “We have not seen any anti-Russian attitudes and there is no supply of weapons to conflict zones,” he said. “We are very grateful for this,” he said. He announced that a 'day visit' is possible.
North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un requested a return visit to North Korea during a summit with President Putin during his visit to Russia in September last year, and President Putin immediately accepted.
President Putin received and accepted a request to visit Vietnam in a phone call with Vietnamese Communist Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong last March.
TASS news agency reported that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, in response to a reporter's question on the 30th of last month about the status of preparations for President Putin's visit to North Korea and Vietnam, said "progress has been made" without mentioning a specific schedule.