Lavrovs Meeting with Kim Jong Un Reinforces Russia-North Korea Ties Amid Ukraine Conflict

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

According to a post on Telegram by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Kim Jong Un «received» Lavrov, sharing a video that captured the two leaders shaking hands and embracing.

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

The visit was announced earlier by both Russian and North Korean state media, which indicated that Lavrov would be in North Korea until Sunday.

This trip marks the latest in an array of prominent visits by senior officials from Moscow, as both nations strengthen their military and political relations amid Russia’s campaign in Ukraine.

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

Earlier on Saturday, Lavrov also held discussions with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, mentioning that North Korean officials had «reiterated their unwavering support for all goals» concerning the military operation in Ukraine, according to TASS.

He expressed gratitude to the «heroic» soldiers of North Korea.

Both parties «stressed their commitment to jointly address the hegemonic ambitions of extra-regional entities that contribute to rising tensions in Northeast Asia and across the Asia-Pacific region,» stated the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Lavrov engaged with his counterpart in Wonsan, a coastal city in North Korea where a large resort was inaugurated earlier this month.

Ahead of his visit, Russia announced plans to initiate bi-weekly flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Lavrov described Wonsan as «an appealing tourist destination,» expressing hope that it would attract not only local residents but also visitors from Russia.

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