Hello and welcome to Newsair. It's coming to you live from the BBC World Service

studios in Central London. I'm Tim Franks and we are beginning in the

hermit kingdom of North Korea and a state visit even by

the exacting standards of a state visit that has been immaculately elaborately choreographed. Very upbeat military bands welcoming the Russian President Vladimir Putin as

ranks of soldiers and equally regimented civilians flanked the main

streets of the capital Pyongyang which which as one of our BBC

reporters in South Korea pointed out, these streets were unusually for a city which

suffers chronic electricity shortages, on this occasion brightly lit.

Mr. Putin was joined on the extensive red carpet by the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The buildup to the ceremonial had started early with the traditional excited state TV news reader. and what's the king's on the gosh

and don't you have to be

the and what of the purpose of the visit?

Well, we'll get a view from Japan in just a moment,

but on paper at least, the two leaders signed what was called a

comprehensive strategic partnership treaty. Its purpose was laid out by Vladimir Putin.

We very much appreciate your consistent and permanent support of the Russian policy, including

with the Ukrainian issue.

I mean in our struggle against the hegemonic imperialist policy imposed for decades by the United States

and its satellites in relation to the Russian Federation.

Kim Jong-un returned the compliment, assuring his visitor that their bond was unassailable.

The situation continues to be complex and changing all the time.

We take this opportunity to confirm once again that we will continue to further, more closely

...