Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, has promised Putin full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The statement came just prior to a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, where the Russian president is beginning his first visit to the country since 2000.

Before the summit, Putin thanked Kim for his support in Ukraine and said the two countries would “fight against the imperialist hegemonistic policies of the US and its satellites”.

Putin arrived in North Korea around 2.45am local time on Wednesday and was greeted by Kim on a red carpet.

Pictures released by Russian news agency RIA showed hundreds of thousands of people lining the city streets, with crowds waving Russian and North Korean flags - and giant portraits of the two leaders - as Putin’s motorcade drove through Pyongyang.