Russian President Vladimir Putin met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a cosmodrome in Russia's Far East for a meeting that underscores how the two leaders' interests are aligning in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the United States.

After Kim arrived by limousine ' brought in his armored train from Pyongyang ' Putin shook hands with him and said he was 'very glad to see' him. Russia state media quoted Kim as thanking Putin for the invitation to visit Russia, 'despite being busy.'