growing importance. a warm welcome from the north korean leader, two men shunned by much of the world, united in defiance of the west, each bearing a shopping list, their embrace a source of deep anxiety in washington. deepening cooperation between russia and the dprk is a trend which should be of great concern to anyone interested in maintaining peace and stability in the korean peninsula, upholding the global non—proliferation regime, abiding by the un security council resolutions and supporting the people of ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence. for vladimir putin, it's all about the war in ukraine. the russian economy may already be on a war footing, but mr putin needs every artillery shell and rocket he can get. north korea is a willing supplier, helping russia to outgun ukraine. before arriving, putin is to kim jong—un for firmly supporting the war. north korea, the regime, shows little regard for human life, even the lives of its own people. so i would not be surprised if putin and kim work out a dealfor north korea to send into russia, not only labourers, but also technicians and perhaps even combat troops in the months to come. the two leaders are drawing ever closer, this their second meeting in less than a year. what's in it for mr kim? like russia, his country is under strict international sanctions. the two men pariahs in arms. but the north korean leader as his own ambitious plans, for nuclear weapons and space technology. a recent spy satellite failed, russia for its limitations can still offer vital assistance. north korean tv has firmly set the mood for this high—profile visit. russian martial music conjuring the sort of patriotic fervour audiences in pyongyang are used to. and video screens making the agenda abundantly clear. these are two men under pressure, keen to demonstrate they still have allies and options and to show the west that, for all its sanctions and condemnation, this is a mutually beneficial relationship. to discuss this visit and what it means, i'm joined now byjenny town, director of the korea programme at the stimson centre — a non—partisan foreign affairs think tank. the first visit in over 20 years, why do you think putin is making this trip now? is it entirely because of his invasion of ukraine? yes. i do think that is one of the underpinnings of the relationship itself. it really did catalyse the willingness for russia to engage in military cooperation with north korea. which has led to the rest of the relationship and the strengthening of relations over the years. there is a huge component of this centred around north korea �*s willingness to provide direct military support to russia when very few other countries well. is there something more solid to the alliance or is it purely transactional?— transactional? there is something _ transactional? there is something broader - transactional? there is l something broader here transactional? there is - something broader here and this concept of building this multipolar world. concept of building this multipolarworld. north concept of building this multipolar world. north korea was one of the first countries to embrace the idea that a new cold war was emerging. numbing it benefits from that kind of by furcation of the system. if there is an alternate world order, us dollars that is not western later, it creates great options for north korea and creates incentives for north korea and russia to co—operate when they are both heavily under international sanctions. how will this alliance by viewed by china? i think it is a very troubling development. china and russia have very different world views right now. even though they still co—operate and have a no limit friendship. russia really wants to upend the current role order in the u.s.—led world system whereas china still wants to be a part of that system and still wants to have a leadership role in it. because of this there are many things both russia and north korea are doing that work against chinese interests. at the same time, it is in response to geopolitical transactions in china as well. i think there is still sympathy for the security situation, especially for north korea who was watching a system where there is greater us and european presence and security affairs in northeast asia and growing us, south korea, japan security cooperation. it still fits within that narrative of what china sees as encirclement and concerning geopolitical trends. it makes it very difficult for them to really come out and chastise and reject either russia or north korea despite actions they are taken that work against chinese interests. and how should america interpret it? i think it is obviously very strong symbolism against the west. and the real rejection of the notion they will be boxed in by international systems and international law, international law, international norms. certainly nothing we see now is new for the big trends have been developing over the past couple of years now. it is really culminating and incentivising this relationship to go further as both countries are really under the gun of the international system and looking for alternatives in order to prevail. speaking of the security _ order to prevail. speaking of the security situation, - order to prevail. speaking of the security situation, as - order to prevail. speaking of| the security situation, as you have been, how concerned should the rest of the world be about this alliance? i'm thinking of the nuclear capabilities of both russia and north korea. it is definitely concerning. we don't know the extent to which russia is willing to help the north koreans and north koreans have been very successful on their in advancing their wmd goals. certainly with russian assistance, if it does spill over into the wmd well, could help north korea faster achieve its goals and at a higher level of sophistication than what north korea would be able to do on its own. that is a huge concern in the revision for the was for its allies in the region. certainly north korea weapons provided to russia help russia continue its worth fighting in ukraine and strengthen and bolster its ability to wage this war against the west. it is definitely concerning but has been concerning for a couple of years now. we really need to find ways to create these off ramps and alternative pathways forward because certainly what we are doing is driving them closer together. we we are doing is driving them closer together.— we are doing is driving them closer together. we await to see how the _ closer together. we await to see how the rest _ closer together. we await to see how the rest of - closer together. we await to see how the rest of that - closer together. we await to j see how the rest of that visit goes but for now, thank you for joining us. mt; goes but for now, thank you for joining ne— here in the us, presidentjoe biden unveiled a large—scale immigration program that will make a pathway to citizenship much simpler for about half a million undocumented people married to us citizens who risk deportation because they are living in the country illegally. under the changes, those who have been in the us for at least ten years can apply for permanent residency, also known as a green card, from within the country. this means they won't have to leave their families and the life they've made in the us to go through the application process. the policy could also benefit nearly 50,000 children with a parent who is married to a us citizen. they'd be shielded from deportation and allowed to live and work in the us. previously, federal laws required that an undocumented person married to an american must first leave the country to apply for citizenship. the policy shift comes just two weeks after president biden imposed a major crackdown at the us—mexico border cutting off access to asylum for people who cross into the us illegally. concerns over immigration have proven to be an election—year headache for mr biden who in the face of mounting criticism over his handling of the issue has defended the new policy. streamline the process for obtaining legal status for immigrants married to american citizens who live here and lived here for a long time. this depth i am thinking that he is overwhelming supported by the american people, no matter what the other 10,000. polls show over 70% of americans support this. this is the second executive action president biden has taken on the issue of immigration — an issue he's been trying to make headway on amid growing discontent from republicans and within his own party over his handling of the issue. the new executive action announced by the administration on tuesday has been widely praised by immigration activists and democrats alike, many of whom have lauded this policy expansion as the most significant relief programme for undocumented migrants already in the us since the 0bama administration announced the deferred action for childhood arrivals, or daca, in 2012. for more on the political situation surrounding president biden's executive order, here's our north america correspondent, nomia iqbal. we thought it was a group crackdown he announced on the board away if the number hits a certain threshold, the border will shut down. that did get some criticism, there is pressure by progressives within his own pilots have a more humane approach. you do also have donald trump, his rival, that has made immigration at big platform of his. and a lot of the announcement he is making, they are almost punitive measures when it comes to immigrants and have been criticised by many is almost potentially being illegally —— illegally unsound. the biggest mass deportation in us history if he does win the election and his is the day after the inauguration, he will start enacting those policies. it might be he is upping the anti and there is pressure potentially on biden but it is better to say yes it is politics but politics becomes policy once enough people care about that and be polls consistently so immigration is a big concern for american voters. for more i'm joined by immigration lawyer fiona mcentee, the managing attorney of the firm, mcentee law group. voices on both sides of the aisle calling out for immigration reform, both in the short—term and for long—term cases and pathways to residency, just how significant a move is this? thanks for having me. i think as we heard, this is one of the most significant immigration beliefs we have seen definitely since ducker. difficult —— significant the people who will benefit from the policies announced today. the white house says about half a million people who are in the us illegally are married to us citizens, what is life like for them currently? you deal with a lot of them in your cross —— course at work. we do. our phones were bidding ijy we do. our phones were bidding by people with hope they might be able to qualify. it is important when we think about is to think about the people they can benefit from them. it is limited to at least the first policy limited to spouses of us citizens that have been in the west for a significant period of time. the requirements are they have benefit tenuous, with the data we saw actually saying majority of people that are qualified for this have been in the us for this have been in the us for 23 years. i was thinking how much is my life changed on 23 years or any of our lives changed. these people have been stuck in this limbo. so much has changed in the world and they have family outside the us they have family outside the us they have family outside the us they have not been able to see. they have just been stuck here. i think the people they can benefit from it, it is truly life changing. will this change be perceived to be risky for them, or a welcome development? i think the important thing to point out is there is a misconception of lots of things in relation to the immigration system but a lot of people think if you are married to a us citizen that you can apply for a green card. and you may be able to apply but may not be able to complete the process in the us and this policy is going to impact people who did not make unlawful entry. and i hear undocumented and are not able to adjust their status to green current in the us. 0therwise blue people would have to leave the us for an extended period of time and be separated from theirfamilies. with any of time and be separated from their families. with any legal think you were applying for any to make sure you get a screening from an attorney and qualified experienced attorneys, there will be a lot of resources available to people to make sure they assess their eligibility for these programmes before they apply. i think they can benefit a lot of people. we want to make sure people. we want to make sure people are getting the screening they need in order to make sure this is the appropriate move for them. but as the people that i spouses of us citizens. what about the second part of the policy the president biden unveiled today relating to those on, how will they benefit? is an rhi abroad one?~ they benefit? is an rhi abroad one? ~ .�* they benefit? is an rhi abroad one? ~ ., �* ., ., one? we don't have all the details about _ one? we don't have all the details about these - one? we don't have all the i details about these particular programmes. we have some details and will get more details and will get more details in the coming weeks and months. in relation to the second group of people, the president acknowledged the benefit in keeping people that are educated in the us here in the us. from what we have seen, it will apply to people that have daca and maybe other people that could have applied for it had that programme not been booked for the betterfor people with a us college education and also have an employer that is willing to sponsor them for work—related visas. were it not for this procedural thing in the law what they have to leave and trigger a buyer, these procedural hurdles prevent people from accessing auctions that other people can apply for. the idea that it will benefit those people, i think a lot of people would agree that keeping educated hard—working keeping educated ha rd—working people keeping educated hard—working people in the us is going to be a good thing. i am excited about the opportunity it opens up about the opportunity it opens up to them, their employers and families as well.— families as well. when a polarised _ families as well. when a polarised it _ families as well. when a polarised it is _ families as well. when a polarised it is in - families as well. when a polarised it is in this - polarised it is in this country. could it be reversed by another president in the future? , ., ' , by another president in the future? , , ., future? first off, it is unfair that peeple _ future? first off, it is unfair that peeple "s _ future? first off, it is unfair that people 's lives - future? first off, it is unfair that people 's lives are - future? first off, it is unfair. that people 's lives are being that people �*s lives are being used as political pawns back and forth between one administration to the next was what we need is for congress to pass on comprehensive immigration reform and address some of these things so that people are not left in limbo wondering what will happen from one administration to the next. from what we know in relation to some of his other waivers, if they are granted and received, it is unlikely they could be reversed by a subsequent administration. who knows if they're pending what might happen. we have to remember these up human being lives at stake and back—and—forth rollercoasters truly not fair. just to know how all these changes are impacting people and their families, there are citizens and children who have parents in this limbo. we hope we get some permanent fixes in the law. now, it is a welcome change. law. now, it is a welcome change-— law. now, it is a welcome chance. ., ~ ., ., change. thank you for “oining us on mi change. thank you for “oining us on bbc news. h around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some stories making news in the uk. a 19—year—old from lancashire is reportedly missing in tenerife. jay slater hasn't been heard from since monday morning when he called a friend to say he was lost and his phone was low on battery. his last known location was in the mountainous rural de teno national park. search dogs and mountain rescue teams are helping with the search. the actor sir ian mckellan, who's 85, says he is "looking forward to returning to work" and is "hugely indebted" to nhs staff who treated him after he fell from the stage in london monday night. the producers of the show player kings say the play will return on thursday. they say sir ian will perform again when he was ready. the japanese state visit to the uk next week will not include the traditional trip to 10 downing street to meet the prime minister. that's because of the ongoing uk election. instead, prime minister rishi sunak and 0pposition leader keir starmer are expected to attend a formal banquet at buckingham palace held for emperer naruhito and empress masako. you're live with bbc news. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu has criticized the us, for what he claims is a delay in military aid needed for the war against hamas. relations between the two allies have been strained for months, over the rising civilian death toll in gaza. here's a portion of those comments, which mr netanyahu posted on social media on tuesday. isaid it i said it is inconceivable that in the past few months the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunition to israel. america closest ally fighting for its life against other common enemies. the us pushed back, with white house press secretary karine jean—pierre saying: "we genuinely do not know what he's talking about." there have been some recent delays. last month, the biden administration paused a delivery of 2000—pound bombs, over concerns about their impact on civilians. but a new round of arms sales, including f—15 fighterjets, was recently approved by democratic lawmakers — part of nearly four billion dollars in annual military aid. us secretary of state antony blinken was asked about mr netanyahu's comments. we have wanted one case, the president has talked about it publicly, the £2000 bombs and the concerns we have them used and densely populated areas. that remains and we continue to work through that but they have been no change in our posture and our posture is to make it has what it means to defend its offer crosby �*s many threats. meanwhile, concerns are growing that attacks between israeli forces and the lebanese militant group, hezbollah, could escalate.the israel defence forces said tuesday that plans for an attack in southern lebanon had been approved. israel's foreign minister warned hezbollah of an "all—out war." a top white house aid is in lebanon to discuss ways to avoid a wider conflict. the us special envoy amos hochstein, met israeli leaders on monday, calling for "urgent" de—escalation of cross—border exchanges of fire. and in gaza, there are warnings of famine looming.doctors have told the bbc that malnutrition and severe dehydration have affected dozens of palestinians. and american media is reporting that a us—built pier, intended to deliver aid into gaza, could be dismantled as early as next month. the pier has only been operational for a total of 10 days, delivering nearly eight million or 3500 metric tons of food since may. but the pier was removed from the gaza shoreline altogether last week after it was damaged by rough seas. the world food program had paused aid distribution from the pier due to security concerns. the pl