Vladimir Putin's Visit to North Korea [The Roundtable]

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid state visits to North Korea and Vietnam last week. In Pyongyang, he signed a landmark security deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In Hanoi, he reaffirms an old friendship with Vietnam.
Recently, the Russian president expressed willingness to hold peace talks with Ukraine. He also sent a carrot-and-stick message to South Korea over military aid to Kyiv. This week, the Roundtable analyzes what is behind his recent conflicting moves.