According to a US official who spoke to CBS, North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, is planning a trip to Russia this month to meet with President Vladimir Putin.

During their meeting, they are expected to discuss the possibility of North Korea supplying weapons to support Russia in its conflict in Ukraine. The exact location of the planned meeting remains uncertain, and there has been no immediate response to this report from North Korea or Russia.

Sources informed the New York Times that Mr. Kim is likely to use an armored train for his travel. This potential meeting follows the White House's announcement that negotiations concerning arms between the two nations are progressing actively.

The National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, mentioned that Russia's Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, had attempted to persuade Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia during a recent visit to North Korea.

The meeting included a display of weapons, including the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This marked the first time Mr. Kim had hosted foreign guests since the Covid pandemic began.

Mr. Putin and Mr. Kim have since exchanged letters "pledging to increase their bilateral cooperation", he said.

"We urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia," Mr Kirby said, using an abbreviation for the North.

He warned that the US would take action, including imposing sanctions, if North Korea did supply Russia with weapons.

According to the New York Times, the meeting between Mr. Kim and Mr. Putin could take place in the city of Vladivostok, on the east coast of Russia.

The newspaper's diplomatic correspondent, Edward Wong, told BBC News channel that an advance team of North Korean officials had traveled to Vladivostok and Moscow late last month.

They "included security officers who deal with the protocol surrounding travel of the leadership, so that was a strong sign for officials looking at this", Wong said.

North Korea, he added, might be seeking "advanced technology" from Moscow to assist with its satellite and nuclear-powered submarine programs.

"Also North Korea is one of the poorest countries in the world," the New York Times journalist said. "It often goes through bouts of mass hunger and it is seeking food aid from Russia too."

Pyongyang and Moscow have both previously denied that the North is supplying Russia with arms for use in its war in Ukraine.

John Everard, who served as UK ambassador to North Korea between 2006 and 2008, told the BBC that publicity around the possible visit was a "strong reason why the visit is now unlikely to take place".

"Kim Jong Un is completely paranoid about his personal security. He goes to great lengths to keep his movements secret and if it's known that he's planning to go to Vladivostok to meet President Putin, he's likely just to cancel the whole thing," he said.

Pyongyang knows that Moscow is "desperate" for munitions and the price that North Korea will ask for them will be "eye-wateringly high", he added.

While North Korea has stockpiles of weapons "they're in very poor condition", he added.

The two leaders last had a summit in 2019 when Mr. Kim arrived by train in Vladivostok. He was welcomed by officials with a traditional offering of bread and salt.

After the meeting, Mr. Putin said Mr. Kim would require "security guarantees" in order to abandon his nuclear program.

Their meeting came just months after a summit in Vietnam between Mr Kim and then-US President Donald Trump had failed to make progress on denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

Really

Arrant nonsense