Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea this week, for the first time in 24 years.
Such a rare trip will take place as Moscow steps up its partnership with the nuclear-armed state.
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, invited Putin for a visit, during his trip to the Far East of Russia, in September of last year.
Putin last visited Pyongyang in July 2000.
The Kremlin has said that Putin will be in North Korea on June 18-19.
The North Korean state media has confirmed the visit, but without giving more details.
The Kremlin has said that after North Korea, Putin will also visit Vietnam.
Russia has started to strengthen ties with North Korea since it started the war in Ukraine, which has alarmed the United States and many countries in Europe and Asia.
Washington has said North Korea has supplied Russia with weapons as it fights in Ukraine, although Pyongyang has denied the allegations.
United Nations observers have found that at least one ballistic missile launched by Russia in Ukraine in January of this year was created by North Korea.
Ukrainian officials have said that the North Koreans have given Russia 50 such missiles.
The United Nations has imposed tough sanctions on Pyongyang since it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, but experts believe the country has continued to develop nuclear weapons and produce nuclear material. /REL