North Korean and Russian Foreign Ministers Discuss Bilateral Ties and Regional Tensions

MOSCOW: North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, held discussions in Moscow earlier this week, focusing on the schedule of upcoming political contacts between their countries. Russian state-run news agency TASS reported that the talks centered on implementing agreements from the leaders’ summit last September and settling regional tensions.

According to Yonhap News Agency,The ministers expressed their commitment to resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, criticizing what they described as provocative actions by the United States and its allies. Choe’s visit, which included a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighted the deepening ties between North Korea and Russia. Additional talks with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak centered on expanding trade and economic cooperation. The North Korean delegation was also observed holding a document possibly related to space technology cooperation, suggesting ongoing collaboration in this field. This visit occurs amidst accusations from Washington and its allies of North Korea providing arms support to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine in exchange for assistance in Pyongyang’s advanced weapons development.