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)
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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.



South Korean President Arrested Over Failed Martial Law Bid

15 January 2025, South Korea, Seoul: A TV screen at Seoul Station, shows a report that police and the anti-corruption agency executed a second warrant to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. Photo: -/YNA/dpa
15 January 2025, South Korea, Seoul: A TV screen at Seoul Station, shows a report that police and the anti-corruption agency executed a second warrant to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. Photo: -/YNA/dpa
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South Korean President Arrested Over Failed Martial Law Bid

15 January 2025, South Korea, Seoul: A TV screen at Seoul Station, shows a report that police and the anti-corruption agency executed a second warrant to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. Photo: -/YNA/dpa
15 January 2025, South Korea, Seoul: A TV screen at Seoul Station, shows a report that police and the anti-corruption agency executed a second warrant to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. Photo: -/YNA/dpa

Impeached South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday over his failed martial law bid, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities and becoming the first president to be detained in the nation's history.

Yoon, who faces charges of insurrection over his short-lived effort to impose martial law last month, said he would comply with investigators to avoid "bloodshed.”

A former prosecutor who led the conservative People Power Party (PPP) to election victory in 2022, Yoon could face the death penalty or life in jail if he is found guilty of insurrection.

He had sought to evade arrest for weeks by remaining in his residential compound, protected by members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) who had remained loyal to him.

His guards had installed barbed wire and barricades at the residence, turning it into what the opposition called a "fortress.”

Yoon, who had vowed to "fight to the end,” managed to thwart a first arrest attempt on January 3 following a tense hours-long impasse between the guards and anti-graft investigators working with police.

But before dawn on Wednesday, hundreds of police officers and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office again surrounded the residence, some scaling perimeter walls and hiking up back trails to reach the main building.

After a standoff of about five hours, authorities announced Yoon had been arrested and the impeached leader released a pre-recorded video message.

"I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office," Yoon said in the message, adding that he did not accept the legality of the investigation but was complying "to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed.”

AFP said that Yoon left his residence in a convoy and was taken to the offices of the Corruption Investigation Office.

Investigators began questioning Yoon shortly after his arrest, Yonhap reported.