North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has discussed with Russia’s defence minister practical issues in stepping up military co-operation, state KCNA news agency says.

During his visit to Russia, Kim inspected Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships on Saturday, accompanied by Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

Kim and Shoigu “exchanged their constructive opinions on the practical issues arising in further strengthening the strategic and tactical co-ordination, co-operation and mutual exchange between the armed forces of the two countries and in the fields of their national defence and security,” KCNA reported.

Kim’s trip comes at a time when “a fresh heyday of friendship and solidarity and co-operation is being opened up in the history of the development of the relations between the DPRK and Russia,” KCNA said, using North Korea’s official name.

Joint military exercises?

Kim also toured Russia’s Pacific Sea Fleet equipped with strategic nuclear submarines among other military vessels, KCNA said, quoting him as praising the fleet for its contribution to peace in the region.

Shoigu told Russian media earlier that Moscow is discussing joint military exercises with North Korea.

Kim will tour several food enterprises as part of his ongoing visit, Russia’s RIA news agency reported on Sunday.

Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and discussed military matters, the war in Ukraine and deepening co-operation.

South Korea and the US said on Friday that military co-operation between North Korea and Russia violated United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang and the allies would ensure there was a price to pay.

Russia has gone out of its way to publicise Kim’s visit and drop repeated hints about the prospect of military co-operation with North Korea, which was formed in 1948 with the backing of the Soviet Union.

For Putin, who says Moscow is locked in an existential battle with the West over Ukraine, courting Kim allows him to needle Washington and its Asian allies while potentially securing a deep supply of artillery for the Ukraine war.

Washington has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia, which has the world’s biggest store of nuclear warheads, but it is unclear whether any deliveries have been made.

Earlier this month, North Korea launched its first operational “tactical nuclear attack submarine”.

-AAP