Meeting with Lavrov in Moscow is attended by the foreign minister of North Korea amidst rumors of a weapons deal

Moscow: Amid international worries about an alleged military cooperation arrangement between Pyongyang and Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergi Lavrov visited his North Korean colleague on Tuesday for discussions on strengthening relations between the two nations. Lavrov said at the outset of the discussion that he and Choe Son Hui, the foreign minister of North Korea, would talk about “active work” on putting the commitments made by the presidents of the two nations into action.

Hui said at the conference that relations with Russia were strengthening in accordance with the goals of the presidents of the two nations—a development that the US and its allies find concerning. In addition, Lavrov said on Tuesday that the two nations had “close and fruitful cooperation” at the UN and other international institutions. He said that Pyongyang’s backing of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine is “highly appreciated” by Moscow.

“We’ll do everything in our power to strengthen our relationship,” Choe said.

Russia-North Korea relations
When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Moscow earlier in September of last year to meet with President Vladimir Putin and tour various military locations, it alarmed the world by suggesting that Moscow would form an armaments alliance to bolster its arsenals in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine.

Later in the day, Choe will be hosted by Putin. According to Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, Kim has invited the Russian president to visit North Korea “at a convenient time” and “based on mutual agreement.”

North Korea has been charged by the US and South Korea of supplying missiles and artillery ammunition to Russia for use in Ukraine. According to US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, Russia has already attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea earlier this month. North Korea’s alleged weaponry deliveries to Russia have been denied by both North Korea and Russia.