Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit North Korea and Vietnam, the Kremlin announced on Monday. Putin’s visit to North Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday follows an invitation from ruler Kim Jong Un, a statement said, describing the trip as a “friendly state visit.” Putin is then due to travel on to Vietnam for two days. Russia maintains close ties to North Korea, which is viewed with great suspicion in the West. The isolated communist country with nuclear ambitions is believed to be supplying Russia with ammunition for its war against Ukraine. Kim paid a rare foreign visit to Rus…