‘A threat like no other’: The West watches on with concern as Putin visits North Korea

As Russian President Vladimir Putin visits North Korea for the first time in 24 years on Tuesday, Western officials will be closely watching the two-day trip for signs of a closer military partnership between the nuclear-armed states.

The Kremlin announced on Monday that Putin would pay "a friendly state visit" to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the invitation of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, as ties deepen between the two leaders.

North Korea has not been shy in its outpourings of reverence for Putin, describing him as a "comrade-in-arms" in the battle against what both countries see as Western hegemony.

The country is certainly rolling out the red carpet for the Russian president's visit, with videos and images on social media showing roads decorated with Russian flags and images of Putin ahead of his arrival.

Ties between Russia and North Korea have deepened in recent years with the countries — which are both heavily sanctioned by the West — hailing their strategic cooperation in the spheres of defense and trade. On this trip, Russian officials have signaled that a "strategic cooperation partnership" could be signed, without providing further details.

Geopolitical analysts at risk consultancy Teneo noted Monday that "the quid pro quo at the summit could be another round of advanced military technology transfers to the Kim regime in areas like missiles, spy satellites, and submarines, in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions."

Western officials will watch the two-day visit closely for signs that the partnership has advanced when it comes to security and defense.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Monday repeated the U.S.' assertion that North Korea had supplied