Lavrovs Visit to North Korea Strengthens Military and Political Ties with Kim Jong Un

On Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his trip to the reclusive nation, a significant ally of Moscow.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov «was welcomed» by Kim, with a video shared on Telegram showing the two leaders greeting each other with a handshake and an embrace.

Lavrov conveyed to Kim that Russian President Vladimir Putin «looks forward to continuing direct communications in the very near future,» as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS.

The visit was previously announced by both Russian and North Korean state media, confirming that Lavrov would remain in the country until Sunday.

This visit marks the latest in a sequence of prominent journeys made by high-ranking officials from Moscow, as the two countries enhance their military and political cooperation in light of Russia’s campaign in Ukraine.

North Korea has dispatched thousands of soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region to assist in expelling Ukrainian forces and has supplied the Russian military with artillery shells and missiles.

Earlier that same day, Lavrov met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, who reaffirmed the North’s «complete support for all objectives» regarding the offensive in Ukraine, according to TASS.

He also expressed gratitude towards the «heroic» North Korean military personnel.

Both nations «stressed their commitment to collaboratively resisting the hegemonic ambitions of external powers that are contributing to increased tensions in Northeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region,» as noted by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

Lavrov’s meeting took place in Wonsan, a coastal city where a large resort recently opened.

Before the visit, Russia announced plans to initiate biweekly flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Lavrov praised Wonsan as «a great tourist destination,» expressing hope that it would attract not just local residents but also Russians.

Last year, the two heavily sanctioned nations entered into a military agreement, which included a mutual defense provision, during a rare visit by Vladimir Putin to North Korea.