• Putin and Kim pledge to strengthen cooperation ahead of Trump's visit.
• North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia in Ukraine.
• Trump is expected to discuss the Ukraine conflict with Putin.
• Both leaders highlighted their "friendship" during a recent phone call.
• The summit marks the first meeting between a sitting US and Russian president since 2021.

In a recent phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral ties as Putin prepares for a summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska. Both leaders emphasized their cooperation under the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, indicating a desire for deeper connections amid ongoing global tensions, according to South China Morning Post, BBC, and Channel News Asia.

During the call, Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea's military support in Russia's operations in Ukraine, specifically regarding the liberation of the Kursk region. Kim pledged that North Korea will "fully support all measures to be taken by the Russian leadership in the future," cementing their military collaboration. This involvement includes over 10,000 troops sent to assist Russian efforts in the ongoing conflict, reports Le Monde and Anadolu Agency.

As Trump prepares to meet with Putin, he is likely to press for a resolution to the Ukraine war. This summation will be the first engagement between a sitting US and Russian president since 2021, a meeting set against a backdrop of renewed military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, according to BBC and Le Monde.

The growing friendship between Russia and North Korea has been underscored by military support agreements following their last formal meeting, which has led to increased deployments of North Korean military personnel and resources to the conflict zone in Ukraine. This situation highlights a significant shift in international alliances as both nations face pressures from Western nations, as noted in reports by South China Morning Post and Anadolu Agency.