Vladimir Putin arrives in North Korea ahead oftalks with Kim Jong-un | BBC News

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in NorthKorea to a red-carpet welcome on Tuesday night at thestart of his first visit to the totalitarian state in 24 years.

Mr Putin was met off his plane by North Korean leaderKim Jong-un and - flanked by a military guard ofhonour - the pair talked animatedly for several minutes.

The two leaders last met in September at theVostochny cosmodrome in Russia's far east, but this isMr Putin's first trip to Pyongyang since 2000.