The Kremlin reportedly said on Thursday that the potential for the development of Russia’s relations with North Korea is “very deep.”

According to Russian state news agency Sputnik, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the statement to reporters when asked if the West should be concerned about the reports on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s imminent visit to North Korea.

Peskov said that Russia's right to develop closer ties with North Korea should not be in doubt nor should it be a source of fear for anyone.

The spokesperson said that North Korea is Russia’s neighbor and a friendly country with which Russia is developing bilateral relations, adding that Moscow will continue to do so in an “upward direction.”

Russia's Vedomosti newspaper reported on Monday that President Vladimir Putin would visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks. 

Japan’s NHK also said that Russia is arranging for Putin to visit North Korea early next week.