North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has offered full support to Moscow in the ongoing war in Ukraine during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Lavrov's visit to North Korea was the latest in a series of high-profile visits by Moscow's top officials as the two countries deepen military and political ties amid Russia's offensive against Kiev.
Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to the Kursk region of Russia to eliminate the Ukrainian army and provided cannons and missiles to the Russian army.
The official KCNA news agency reported that Kim and Lavrov met on Saturday in an atmosphere full of warm comradely trust.
Russia's foreign ministry posted a video on Telegram of the two men shaking hands and hugging each other, saying the talks took place in Wonsan, on the country's east coast. A huge resort opened earlier this month in Wonsan.
Kim told Lavrov that North Korea is "ready to unconditionally support and encourage all measures taken by the Russian leadership in dealing with the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis," according to KCNA.
The North Korean leader also expressed his "firm belief that the Russian army and people will definitely win to fulfill the sacred purpose of protecting the country's dignity and basic interests".
The two leaders discussed important issues to faithfully implement the agreements reached at the historic North Korea-Russia summit in June 2024", KCNA said.
During Russian President Vladimir Putin's rare visit to North Korea, the two heavily embargoed countries signed a military agreement with a mutual defense clause last year.
According to the Russian state agency TASS, Lavrov told Kim that Putin "hopes to continue direct contact in the near future." Russia and North Korea The Korean state media said that Lavrov will stay until Sunday. Earlier on Saturday, Lavrov met with his counterpart Cho Son Hui and thanked the "heroic" North Korean soldiers who were deployed to help Russia. "Both sides emphasized their determination to jointly face the aspirations of non-regional players in Northeast Asia and the entire Asia-Pacific region," Russia's foreign ministry said announced the launch of twice-weekly flights between Moscow and Pyongyang. Lavrov praised Wonsan as "a good tourist attraction," adding, "We hope it will be popular not only among local citizens but also among Russians."
