Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Pyongyang on June 18 for the first time in 24 years. Greeted by North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un at the runway and passing by a city saturated with Russian flags and giant portraits of the Russian leader, Putin looked happy – he was visiting a country that still considered Russia a vital ally. This time around, however, Russia needed North Korea as much, if not more, than ever before. Putin’s visit to North Korea, being painted as an opportunity to expand bilateral cooperation in tourism, culture, and education, would no doubt be focused on defense a…