Russian Foreign Minister Lavrovs Historic Visit to North Korea Amid Strengthening Ties

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in North Korea on Friday for a work trip, as reported by Russian state media. This visit marks another in a series of significant trips taken by high-ranking officials from Moscow.

According to the news agency TASS, «The minister’s plane touched down at Wonsan airport,» and Lavrov is expected to have discussions with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui.

Both Russian and North Korean state media announced the visit earlier this week, noting that Lavrov would be in North Korea until Sunday.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Pyongyang has become a key ally for the Kremlin. The North Korean government has deployed thousands of troops to the Kursk region of Russia to assist in countering Ukrainian forces and has supplied the Russian military with artillery shells and missiles.

North Korea only publicly acknowledged its troop deployment in support of Russia in April. Since then, state media has featured images of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paying respects to the flag-draped coffins of soldiers who were killed while aiding Russia in the conflict against Ukraine.

Russia’s Security Council chief, Sergei Shoigu, has made multiple trips to Pyongyang this year, including one last month.

The two heavily sanctioned nations established a military agreement last year that incorporates a mutual defense clause during a rare visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea.

Shoigu also announced that North Korea would send builders and demining teams to the Kursk region.