In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (R) attend a signing ceremony following their bilateral talks at Kumsusan state residence in Pyongyang. (Kristina Kormilitsyna/Pool/AFP)
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin first drove North Korea’s Kim Jong Un around before they took a walk in a park, and then swapped over so that Kim could drive Putin back.
The drive and chat, in a black armoured Aurus luxury car made in Russia and gifted to Kim, was captured by Russian state TV as part of a highly choreographed visit that was lavishly covered by the tightly controlled media in both countries.
The visit went beyond visual displays of friendship, with the signing of what the countries described as a mutual defence agreement.
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