russia's state news agency, tass, said president putin is travelling to the country on the invitation of north korean leader kim jong—un. the pair last met in september when mr kim travelled to russia. earlier, the us expressed its concern about the deepening relationship between the two countries. here'sjohn kirby. notjust not just because of notjust because of the impact it will have on the ukrainian people. because we know north korean ballistic missiles are still being used to hit ukrainian targets, but because there could be some reciprocity here that could affect security on the korean peninsula. we have not seen the parameters of that come to fruition but we will be watching that very closely. let's speak to professor paul moorcraft, author & commentator on military, strategy, security and intelligence issues in russia and north korea. we just to the national security spokes man john we just to the national security spokes manjohn kirby talking about watching events very closely. what exactly is the us and is south korea going to be paying attention to? there are two aspects to this visit one is symbolic, largely symbolic one is very practical, weapons. the symbolic aspect is these are the two most isolated countries in the world. in terms of sanctions. so president putin is a very proud man, he was left out of conference at the as a leader of a major european state but he has become isolated, remember he can't travel to many places, indicted as a war criminal by the international criminal court, so he can visit north korean safety and that is what he's doing, there show russia still a big player on the stage, so that is the symbolic part and it is two fingers to the americans, two fingers to the americans, two fingers to the un. he is there to show and give to, —— and kim jong—un is very isolated, what they need is weapons, besides they need is weapons, besides the symbolism is weapons. russia has been fighting a long war as we know, and russia created the north korean state and its arsenal, most of the weapons are compatible in terms of artillery, small arms, mortars, so the north koreans have a massive arsenal, so do the south koreans by the way. full of american arms. president putin is there to get some weapons for his war in ukraine, which is exhausting his supply. ukraine, which is exhausting his swam-— ukraine, which is exhausting his sum-— his supply. just very quickly. we know _ his supply. just very quickly. we know what _ his supply. just very quickly. we know what president - his supply. just very quickly. i we know what president putin wants, what is in it for kim jong—un? wants, what is in it for kim long-u"?— wants, what is in it for kim jonu-un? , , _ jong-un? besides the symbolic asects jong-un? besides the symbolic aspects which _ jong-un? besides the symbolic aspects which i _ jong-un? besides the symbolic aspects which i emphasised, i jong-un? besides the symbolic i aspects which i emphasised, kim has a problem with his satellite technology, although he is providing ballistic missiles more advanced weapons, especially, they failed to launch satellites, they want to try also to create submarine launched ballistic missiles, with nuclear heads on them. they want russian advice on that. also they want food, they want foreign currency, the country, a zombie economy is starving, so, the north koreans want food, technology and as i said the symbolism of these two guys, the expression you used the lonely bromance, these guys can help each other restore faith in each other and their international position. it should be a win—win, well it worry the west? yes, there will be more intense fighting and weapons, and the reason why north korea is sanctions —— has sanctions is because it is developing nuclear weapons that can reach americans. the americans are concerned. will this intensify the war in the korean peninsula, do we need another area of hostility on top of the war in ukraine and the middle east. this will be a large ceremony these guys are both dictators with a flair for military showmanship. a lot of symbolism and practical benefits to both leaders, who have been isolated. also there is a sidebar, kim jong—un does not like flying, he only goes to contiguous countries next to china and russia. so apply anywhere he does not, he goes his armoured train. these guys can meet up, one year from his armoured train. these guys can meet up, one yearfrom when they met and they want to bolster their position. should we be worried? maybe, there is no immediate threat to the west but there is an immediate threat to ukraine. professor moorcroft — threat to ukraine. professor moorcroft thank _ threat to ukraine. professor moorcroft thank you - threat to ukraine. professor moorcroft thank you very i threat to ukraine. professor. moorcroft thank you very much for that. let's speak to our correspondent, shaimaa khalil, who is following the story from seoul. described as a friendly state visit, taken 2a years for the friend to visit the neutral�*s friend's friend to visit the neutral�*s friends i'm. friend to visit the neutral's friend's i'm.— friend to visit the neutral's friend's i'm. expect to hear that phrase _ friend's i'm. expect to hear that phrase the _ friend's i'm. expect to hear that phrase the lonely - friend's i'm. expect to hear- that phrase the lonely bromance quite a bit today and tomorrow is the russian president vladimir putin makes his way to north korea for the first time in 2a years. that is the first part of the significance, the fact he has not done so for very long, we werejust very long, we were just watching a tv news programme very long, we werejust watching a tv news programme in the capital showing archive footage of a much younger vladimir putin who visited the father of kimjong—un in vladimir putin who visited the father of kim jong—un in the year 2000. father of kim jong—un in the year2000. significant father of kim jong—un in the year 2000. significant because of how long it has taken him to do so, significant because of the direction, the first two summits it was kim jong—un making his way to russia to meet the russian president, now it is vladimir putin making that visit, essentially responding to kim jong—un�*s invite, last time he was in russia to visit pyongyang and this is happening now. also it is very significant because the timing of it, because of the fact vladimir putin yet again, is deeply isolated, he is desperate for munitions, for his continuing war in ukraine andi his continuing war in ukraine and i think the optics of this are going to show they are going to show two strong men with weakening economies, further isolated global standing and if you look for example at the letter he wrote today, demare putin ahead of his visit that ran on north korean state media he talked about developing alternative mechanisms of trade cooperation including —— including security, not controlled by the westjointly resisting west jointly resisting unilateral restrictions, westjointly resisting unilateral restrictions, the transition —— the translation as we are both together against the united states and its allies we are struggling with sanctions and we both have something the others want. north korea needs special nuclear technology and satellite technology after it failed to launch its spy satellite into orbit in late may, russian needs the munitions north korea can provide and has provided which is something both ukraine military and united states have continued to assert, even though both sides have denied. shaimaa khalil, live from soul. thank you. the head of nato has told the bbc that member states should consider imposing sanctions on china, if it keeps providing support to the russian military. the nato chief has been in washington for meetings with us presidentjoe biden. earlier, mr stoltenberg announced a big increase in the number of nato members on—track to hit a key defence spending target. he said at least 20 nations would reach the target of 2% of gdp this year. that works out at about double the number of 5 years ago. the announcement follows comments made by former us president, donald trump, earlier this year. he caused alarm in europe when he said, if re—elected, he wouldn't defend countries that failed to meet the target. he said russia could do "whatever the hell it wanted" to countries that didn't spend enough. mr stoltenberg is in washington to prepare for next month's nato summit. the war in ukraine will be a key topic of discussion at the gathering, and speaking to the bbc before talks with the president,— mr stoltenberg discussed efforts to support kyiv and how those efforts affect tensions in the indo—pacific region. what we have seen they have provided unprecedented support ukraine, but this winter serious delays and gaps in the support and we need to do whatever we can to prevent those kind of gaps in the future. because we know the stronger our support ukraine, the sooner the war can end because the quicker president putin will understand you cannot wait us out, i hope allies can agree more longer term pledge, support ukraine and also give nato a strong role in supporting —— providing that spot. i strongly believe it will not be in the security interest in the united states if president putin wins in the united states, it will send a message to them and xi jinping when they invade another country they get what they want. this is not only about ukraine but sending a message to xijinping if ukraine but sending a message to xi jinping if you use force against taiwan or in any way in asia—pacific. so therefore it is in the interest of the us to see victory prevails. european allies are watching what the us is doing, it is not the us doing this alone, european allies are providing as much material support to the ukraine as united states. the material support to the ukraine as united states.— as united states. the head of nato speaking _ as united states. the head of nato speaking to _ as united states. the head of nato speaking to the - as united states. the head of nato speaking to the bbc- as united states. the head of nato speaking to the bbc on | nato speaking to the bbc on monday. on monday, israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, disbanded his war cabinet. it came just over a week after the former general benny gantz, who was a centrist, quit. decisions about the war with hamas in gaza will now be made with a pre—existing security cabinet and the larger full cabinet. 0ur middle east correspondent, lucy williamson, filed this update overnight, including what this could mean for the course of the war. this was widely expected after benny gantz left the war cabinet, it is true benjamin netanyahu has lost a little bit of political cover with this. it is important to remember that in some ways his biggest political constraint always came from outside at war cabinet. it came from the two far right leaders of the two far right leaders of the two far right leaders of the two far right parties in his coalition and they have threatened to withdraw their parties and bring down his government if he makes decisions over gaza they do not like, primarily making a deal with hamas to end the war. we saw yesterday how sensitive some of those decisions can be when the israeli army said it was going to announce a daily tactical truce along one stretch of road to try and get more aid in. today the impression we have from the ground in gaza it has not made much difference to the aid been delivered along that short stretch of route, but the two far right leaders were furious and that left benjamin �*s and yahoo! in a tricky position because he is under pressure within his own governor over decisions like this, but without real change on the ground in gaza, the international pressure he is under is not going away. —— within his own government. here in the uk, today is the last day to register to vote in person for the upcoming general election on the 4th ofjuly. there is a growing campaign to encourage new and young voters to turn out on polling day. latest figures show an estimated a5 million first—time voters are eligible but not yet registered. 96% of pensioners are registered butjust two thirds of 18—to—24—year—olds are. 0n the agenda today, labour is set to highlight its plans to roll out 350 banking hubs across britain. meanwhile, the conservatives are calling on labour to rule out scrapping the requirement for local authorities to hold referendums on council tax rises above a certain level. and the lib dems are promising to recruit a hundred new water quality inspectors. ben wright has the latest on the uk election. the labourcampaign is the labour campaign is captured in one word in so far, it is a pitch keeping to care stomach's party miles ahead in the opinion polls yesterday the labour leader pledging to change football governance rules to prevent any super league style brea kaways rules to prevent any super league style breakaways by english clubs. today the party is highlighting plans to create 350 new banking pubs and british towns, move the party claims would in cash to high streets, and help keep pubs and other shops open. rishi sunak to warn voters yesterday not to give labour a blank check on polling day. primus denies the situation looks bleak for the tories but said he believes he can win. his tactic is to relentlessly criticise and question labour tax plans, council tax is the latest focus on the tories say labour should rule out scrapping referenda on council tax hikes, and attack labour described as hysterical and desperate. while the two main parties slug it out the liberal democrat leader seems to be having far more fun than his rivals. today the party is again focusing on cleaning up dirty water. with a pledge to recruit 100 new water quality inspectors as part of a plan to clampdown on sewage dumping water companies. as the campaign quickens towards polling day onjuly four, polling day on july four, campaigners polling day onjuly four, campaigners are encouraging people to register to vote. {line people to register to vote. one of our biggest _ people to register to vote. que: of our biggest slogans people to register to vote. iez of our biggest slogans if you don't do politics, politics will do, we really do mean do we want other people to make decisions about our lives when we are the experts in our own lived expense. politics can you're too high level but in reality we are the experts in our own lived expense. nearly 2 million applications _ our own lived expense. nearly 2 million applications to _ our own lived expense. nearly 2 million applications to vote - million applications to vote have been made since the election was called, and if you are not registered you have until midnight tonight to make sure you can cast a ballot. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. firefighters in california are tackling the state's biggest blaze of the year so far. winds of up to 50mph, that's around 80km/h, have fanned the flames, scorching over 15,000 acres. efforts to contain the wildfire are being severely hampered by high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds. meanwhile, millions of americans are bracing for a potentially historic heat wave set to reach large parts of the central and eastern us later this week. this is extremely hot forjune and you should not underestimate the heat. with climate change leading to more frequent and intense heat, summers are different than they were before so we should expect and be prepared for the hot weather that is coming. joining me now is los angeles times reporter grace toohey who's been covering these wildfires. just where are we with those fires? ., ., , ., fires? unfortunately we have another pretty _ fires? unfortunately we have another pretty busy - fires? unfortunately we have another pretty busy day - fires? unfortunately we have another pretty busy day of. another pretty busy day of wildfires in california, we had nine more wildfires sparked across the state, and the largest one remains in southern california, northern los angeles county, it is like you said 15,000 acres now, and appears to be still growing with conditions continuing to remain in position. the high ones, the hot temperatures, low humidity until at least tomorrow if not longer. 3�*5 tomorrow if not longer. 75 million americans across america, are now under extreme heat alerts. that is astonishing, isn't it? it heat alerts. that is astonishing, isn't it? it is a lot, astonishing, isn't it? it is a lot. yes. — astonishing, isn't it? it is a lot, yes, especially - astonishing, isn't it? it is a lot, yes, especially for - astonishing, isn't it? it is a. lot, yes, especially forjune. could you just described the season for us, we heard the gentleman speaking a little earlier, saying that the weather is so different now, just what are the extremes because there has been floods, you have had fires?— because there has been floods, you have had fires? really what we are seeing — you have had fires? really what we are seeing with _ you have had fires? really what we are seeing with climate - we are seeing with climate change, in california and across the united states, is more extremes, we are seeing more extremes, we are seeing more extremes, we are seeing more aggressive rainfall when rain comes, and especially we are seeing more extreme heat, extreme heat has become really a huge issue in california where i live, it is extremely dangerous and one of the leading causes of death now in california and it is becoming a leading cause of death in the united states as well full. just because when heat is so extreme, which is what we asked the —— starting to see more and more as global temperatures rise, people �*s bodies can't recover it it is not cooling off at night if they don't have access to air—conditioning, hydration and rings like that. we are just seeing more and more of this more frequently. i understand the hurricane season is expected to be the most active in recent memory, let's go back to the wildfires. how is california when it comes to land and forest management. i'm thinking of feeding those fires and dry trees, is that cleared pretty efficiently?— pretty efficiently? you know it is a hue pretty efficiently? you know it is a huge state, _ pretty efficiently? you know it is a huge state, a _ pretty efficiently? you know it is a huge state, a really - pretty efficiently? you know it is a huge state, a really large | is a huge state, a really large undertaking to try and keep his buyers to try and manage the forests, and ongoing effort for sure, unfortunately wo —— what we have seen in the last few years, we have had impressive wet seasons which is great to help us prepare for drought what did was spurred a lot of growth, of the underbrush of grasses, a lot of that invasive as well so not native species will they reallyjust as well so not native species will they really just shot as well so not native species will they reallyjust shot up the last few years and now we are seeing it as drying out, those plants are completely drying out, now they are ready just sitting there as fuel, if a fire does strike which is what we have seen over the last few days. what we have seen over the last few da s. , ., ~ what we have seen over the last fewda s. , ., ~ few days. grace tui, thank you very much _ few days. grace tui, thank you very much indeed. _ at least six people have been killed after heavy rains caused widespread damage across ecuador. floods and landslides have destroyed roads, bridges and homes, and hundreds of people have been evacuated to improvised shelters. bbc world service latin america reporter mimi swaby has more. rescue workers and volunteers in ecuador are looking for survivors