The highs and lows of Russia-North Korea relations under Putin

FILE PHOTO: Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un visit the Vostochny Сosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo

SEOUL (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday and hold talks with its leader, Kim Jong Un, the two countries said.

Below is a timeline of key events in relations between Russia and North Korea over the last two decades.

July, 2000

Putin visits North Korea in the first year of his presidency and holds a summit meeting with Kim Jong Il, the father of the North's current leader. It is Putin's first to North Korea.

Oct. 14, 2006 - Dec. 22, 2017

Over more than 10 years, Russia votes for nine major United Nations Security Council resolutions penalizing North Korea, including measures banning weapons trade, transfers of missile technology and shipment of luxury goods to Pyongyang.

April 25, 2019

Putin and Kim Jong Un meet in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East for their first summit.

February, 2020

North Korea closes its borders with Russia, and with China, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Russian diplomats and family members have to use a hand-pushed rail trolley to get over the frontier.

Feb. 24, 2022

Russia invades Ukraine. North Korea backs Moscow, blaming the "hegemonic policy" and "high-handedness" of the United States and the West.

May 26, 2022

Russia and China veto a U.S.-drafted resolution that would have imposed more sanctions on North Korea such as bans on tobacco and oil imports, publicly splitting the U.N. Security Council on the North Korea issue for the first time.

July 25, 2023

Russia's then defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, visits Pyongyang and is given a tour of a defence expo by Kim that featured North Korea's banned ballistic missiles.

Sept. 13, 2023

Kim travels to the Russian Far East for a second summit with Putin. They discuss military cooperation, the war in Ukraine and Russian help for North Korea's satellite programme, according to both leaders.

Oct. 13, 2023

The United States accuses North Korea of sending weapons to Russia. Moscow and Pyongyang later deny the allegations.

Nov. 21, 2023

North Korea places its first successful spy satellite into orbit. South Korea says itis possible that Russia provided technical help.

Jan. 4, 2024

The U.S. says Russia has used short-range ballistic missiles sourced from North Korea in multiple strikes against Ukraine. This is later confirmed by independent experts and U.N. sanctions monitors.

March 28, 2024

Russia vetoes the renewal of the U.N. panel tasked with monitoring sanctions imposed on North Korea related to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

May 16-17, 2024

The U.S. and Britain impose sanctions on Russian entities accused of facilitating arms transfers with North Korea.

June 18-19, 2024

The dates for Putin's second visit to North Korea.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; editing by Miral Fahmy and Andrew Heavens)