'I worked for Vladimir Putin - he despised Kim Jong-un before the war in Ukraine'

Russian President "despised" which is why he didn't visit North Korea for 25 years, Putin's former speechwriter tells the Daily Express.

Moscow's relationship with Pyongyang has strengthened in recent years as Russia becomes increasingly isolated on the world stage.

has sent angering leaders in the West.

But while Putin and North Korean President Kim Jong-un are growing closer, one of Putin's former aides has revealed that the Russian President has not always been fond of his counterpart in Pyongyang.

Abbas Gallyamov, Putin's speechwriter during his stint as prime minister from 2008-2012, said: "Putin desperately needs manpower, that's the only reason he needs North Korean soldiers.

"I don't know what he gave in return. Most probably just money. Their relations are getting very intimate. Putin feels that he is turning into a pariah just like Kim, so now the latter is not somebody he despises like before.

"He didn't travel to North Korea for 25 years. Kim was an obvious pariah, Putin didn't want to be one, he wanted to be mainstream.

"But Kim is now somebody who inspires Putin and shows that it's possible to survive as a leader even when you are pariah."

Earlier this year, Putin and Kim signed a security pact.

It includes a clause requiring the countries to come to each other's defence if either is attacked.

After signing the deal, Putin said: "The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement."

Kim, meanwhile, branded it the "strongest ever treaty."

After sending thousands of soldiers into Ukraine, North Korea's foreign minister Choe Son Hui met with Russian counterpart Seregi Lavrov on Friday.

She vowed to support Russia's invasion "until victory."

She added: "We also assure that until the day of victory we will firmly stand alongside our Russian comrades."