Kim Jong-un's popularity is skyrocketing.

Now that he's en route to Singapore for the historic Trump-Kim Summit (is it really, really happening??), it seems everyone else wants in on this new outward-facing North Korean leader.

Including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Invitation from Putin

On May 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid a visit to Pyongyang and reportedly passed a message from Putin to Kim. Lavrov also personally extended an invitation to Kim, saying:

"Come to Russia, we will be very happy to see you."

And on June 4, it was revealed that Putin's message specifically invited Kim to Russia's Eastern Economic Forum at Vladivostok in September.

[related_story]

The Nikkei Asian Review also reports that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to attend this meeting, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae-in considering their attendance as well.

Should all the aforementioned leaders show up, it will give Russia considerable diplomatic leverage vis-a-vis the U.S..

However, it is currently unclear if Kim will accept Putin's invitation.

Four years ago in 2014, Putin invited Kim to Russia before but that trip was abruptly cancelled by Kim at the last minute.

As for the current summit in Singapore with Trump, Putin has praised Trump as "brave and mature", adding that he expects a "positive outcome" from the meeting.

Visit from Assad

Meanwhile, on June 3, Assad announced his interest in paying a visit to Kim in North Korea. Assad's statement was reportedly made when he received the credentials of the new North Korean ambassador to Syria, Mun Jong-nam.

However, no specific date for the visit has been set yet.

Should Assad eventually make good on his intention to visit Kim, it will be Kim's first meeting with another head of state within North Korea.

It wouldn't be too shocking if it did happen, though — both countries share good relations, with North Korea having had an embassy in Damascus since 1966 and Syria's in Pyongyang since 1969.

North Korea has also sent arms and troops to Syria before.

In 1973, North Korea provided 530 troops to Syria for the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. In 2007, a Syrian nuclear reactor that was destroyed by Israel was reportedly built with help from North Korea.

More recently, North Korea has also been involved in Syria's eight-year long civil war. A UN report has claimed that North Korea provided Syria with supplies for its chemical weapons.

Syria reciprocated North Korea's help by opening a monument and park dedicated to Kim Il-Sung in Damascus in 2015. The unveiling ceremony featured North Korean and Syrian dignitaries, military officials and a marching band.

Assad has also been reported to have praised Kim before too:

“The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political calibre and wise leadership of HE (His Excellency) Kim Jong Un. I am sure that he will achieve the final victory and realise the reunification of Korea without fail.”

Isolated no more

It is certainly fair to say that Kim is no longer an isolated figure.

His recent meetings with Xi and upcoming summit with U.S. President Donald Trump have gone a long way towards boosting his popularity with leaders who hold significant geopolitical importance.

Perhaps Kim can soon enough count himself among their ranks?

Top image via screengrab from YouTube.

Buy a Trump-Kim t-shirt: