North Korea: The Russian Foreign Minister Mr. Sergei Lavrov has stated that Moscow has pledged its “complete support” for North Korean leader Mr. Kim Jong Un. The Russian Foreign Minister, who is on an official trip to North Korea, also thanked the country for its support in the Ukraine war.
According to reports, Mr. Lavrov’s ongoing trip sets the stage for a possible visit to the country by Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Lavrov’s two-day visit comes after Mr. Kim’s days-long visit to Russia in September, where he met Mr. Putin to discuss “possibilities” for military cooperation.
In July, Russia’s Defence Minister also visited North Korea and was shown the country’s latest weapons, including the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile.
Speaking at an official reception, Mr. Lavrov pledged Moscow’s “complete support” for Mr. Kim and accused the US and its allies of unleashing a “war against the Russian federation”.
The Russian Minister added that he was there to discuss implementing the arrangements made when Mr. Putin and Mr. Kim met last month but did not elaborate further.
Earlier, Washington warned that Russia is buying weapons from North Korea for its war against Ukraine and said any help from Pyongyang would violate United Nations resolutions.
Recently, the US released intelligence and evidence that stated the “transfer of ammunition and artillery had already started.” Satellite images also showed 300 containers had been shipped from the North Korean port of Nanjin to Dunay on Russia’s east coast in early September and then transported to a military warehouse near Tikhoretsk, close to the Ukrainian border.
In recent months, both North Korea and Russia have promised to deepen ties with each other as both countries have become increasingly isolated on the world stage.