Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit both North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks.
According to Russia's ambassador in Pyongyang, who spoke to the major Russian daily newspaper Vedomosti, preparations are underway for a visit by President Putin to North Korea.
This visit is part of a larger diplomatic tour that also includes Vietnam.
Earlier statements from Russian and Vietnamese representatives have confirmed the planned trip.
The visit follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's trip to Russia last fall, where he met with Putin, further strengthening diplomatic ties between the two countries.
