"North Korea Emphasizes Alignment with Russia as Putin Plans Early Visit"

North Korea announces that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to visit at an early date, as the two countries align against the United States. The North Korean Foreign Ministry emphasizes strategic and tactical cooperation with Russia to establish a "new multi-polarized international order" amid escalating confrontations with the U.S. North Korea condemns the U.N. Security Council's emergency meeting over its latest ballistic test and continues to ramp up weapons tests and military demonstrations. Kim Jong Un's regime aims to diminish South Korea's voice in the regional nuclear standoff and force direct dealings with Washington.