The North Korean dictator is set to speak with tyrant Vlad, 70, about supplying weapons to bolster Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Kim – who rarely leaves his country – is reportedly willing to hand Putin artillery shells and anti-tank missiles in exchange for satellite and nuclear submarine technology.
The North Korean leader arrived at the Vostochny Cosmodrome on his armoured train on Wednesday morning after crossing into Russia the day before.
Putin told Kim he was “very glad to see” him, while the North Korean despot thanked Putin for the invitation to Russia.
Speaking at the space base, Putin told reporters that the pair would discuss “all the issues” at their meeting.
When asked if Russia would help Kim build satellites, Putin replied: “That’s why we came here.
“The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket engineering, they are also trying to develop space.”
Putin showed Kim around Russia’s most modern space rocket launch site – which is nestled among the forests of eastern Russia near the Chinese border.
He congratulated Kim on a series of North Korean anniversaries – including 75 years since North Korea was founded in 1948.
Via a translator, Kim thanked Putin for the invitation and for the warmth of his reception.
Russian state TV sait Kim asked Putin a large number of detailed questions.
The White House has warned that arms negotiations between North Korea and Russia are “actively advancing”.
In return for ammunition, North Korea will likely want shipments of food and energy and transfers of sophisticated weapons technologies.
It’s unclear how far Kim and Putin’s military cooperation could go – but any sign of warming relations will worry rivals like the US and South Korea.
The meeting of the two tyrants came just hours after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles.