Kim Jong-un gives 'heartfelt thanks' to Vladimir Putin as he departs Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to President Vladimir Putin as he headed home after nearly a week in Russia to strengthen ties between the two nations. Kim's tour of Russia's far east, which began Tuesday, has fanned Western fears that isolated, nuclear-armed Pyongyang could provide Moscow with weapons for its war in Ukraine. During the trip, North Korea's leader inspected everything from Russian space rockets to submarines. It also included a symbolic exchange of rifles with Putin. Before departing from Vladivostok, the Pacific port city just over the border, Kim was presented with five explosive drones,…