Russia’s Foreign Minister to Visit North Korea Oct. 18-19 

In this photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Beijing, China, on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
In this photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Beijing, China, on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
TT

Russia’s Foreign Minister to Visit North Korea Oct. 18-19 

In this photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Beijing, China, on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
In this photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Beijing, China, on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will visit North Korea on Wednesday and Thursday this week, North Korea's state media KCNA and Russia's foreign ministry said on Monday.

Lavrov's visit comes a month after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare trip to Russia during which he and President Vladimir Putin discussed military cooperation, including over North Korea's satellite program and the war in Ukraine.

The growing diplomatic exchanges between the countries have fanned concerns that they could shore up Russia's military in Ukraine while North Korea obtains missile technology banned under UN resolutions.

Washington has accused Pyongyang of providing weapons to Moscow for its war in Ukraine, including through a recent shipment from an ammunition depot in North Korea, though both have denied any arms transactions.

Nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States held talks in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Monday and warned against any illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

The envoys also pledged "stern responses" if the North launches a spy satellite this month as it had announced, after two failed attempts.

"They reaffirmed that there will be a clear price for North Korea's illegal actions that undermine peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the international community as a whole," the ministry said in a statement.



North Korea Leader Kim Discusses Military Cooperation with Russian Official

This picture taken on July 18, 2024 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on July 19 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) meeting with Russia's Vice Minister of Defense Aleksey Krivoruchko at the headquarters building of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)
This picture taken on July 18, 2024 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on July 19 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) meeting with Russia's Vice Minister of Defense Aleksey Krivoruchko at the headquarters building of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)
TT

North Korea Leader Kim Discusses Military Cooperation with Russian Official

This picture taken on July 18, 2024 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on July 19 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) meeting with Russia's Vice Minister of Defense Aleksey Krivoruchko at the headquarters building of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)
This picture taken on July 18, 2024 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on July 19 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) meeting with Russia's Vice Minister of Defense Aleksey Krivoruchko at the headquarters building of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received Russian vice minister of defense Aleksey Krivoruchko and discussed the importance of the two countries' militaries to unite more firmly to defend world peace and justice, KCNA news agency said on Friday.
Kim and Krivoruchko shared the need for military cooperation between the two countries to defend mutual security interests, KCNA said.
Krivoruchko conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim, who expressed deep thanks in the meeting, held on Thursday.
The report did not provide any other details of Krivoruchko's delegation or the purpose of the visit to North Korea, said Reuters.
North Korea and Russia have deepened military cooperation since their leaders held a summit in the Russian Far East last year and signed a treaty on strategic partnership that includes a mutual defense agreement struck in June when Putin visited Pyongyang.
The two countries have been accused of conducting arms trade by Seoul and Washington to help Russia's stock of missiles and artillery for its war with Ukraine. The two countries deny such trade.