Russia has officially invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to make a state visit, a Russian deputy foreign minister announced Thursday, according to the TASS news agency. The timing of the trip will be coordinated through diplomatic channels; Kim has previously visited Russia twice, in 2019 and 2023, but both meetings with President Vladimir Putin took place in Russia's Far East rather than in Moscow. The invitation underscores the deepening partnership between the two countries, which has grown significantly since North Korea deployed troops to support Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.