Another meeting between North Korea and Russia has fueled speculations about a potential arms deal between the two countries, prompting international concern.
North Korea and Russia Relations
According to Reuters, the Kremlin said on Monday that Russia was developing relations with "our partner" North Korea, adding that they would build on agreements reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when the two countries' leaders met at a Russian space launch center last September.
At that time, Putin vowed to help North Korea build satellites. The statement coincided with the visit of a delegation led by North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui to Moscow. According to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, the delegation arrived in Russia on Sunday and will spend until Wednesday for talks.
"North Korea is our closest neighbour and partner, with whom we are developing and intend to further develop partnerships in all areas," Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said as Reuters reported.
"The visit is a development of the agreements that were reached at the Vostochny cosmodrome when Kim visited it, and based on the results of the negotiations that he had with Putin. Dialogue at all levels will continue... We look forward to intense and fruitful negotiations," he added.
Choe's visit to Moscow reportedly came at the invitation of her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Fox News reported that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed Choe's meeting with Lavrov on Tuesday.
US and South Korea's Response to North Korea and Russia's Relations
Both the US and South Korea alleged that North Korea has provided Moscow with weaponry, including artillery and missiles, to help its fight in Ukraine. Russia, in return, will reportedly provide North Korea with technological and military insights.
The spokesperson of South Korea's Unification Ministry, Koo Byoungsam, said it is closely watching the North Korean foreign minister's visit to Russia and any potential deals or shifts in relations.
Koo accused North Korea and Russia of "maintaining illegal cooperation activities, including arms exchanges" following Kim's visit to Moscow last year. The US also claimed it had evidence that North Korea provided missiles used by Russia in Ukraine.
In a joint statement last week, the US, South Korea, and their allies criticized the alleged partnership, asserting that the North Korean-supplied missiles support Russia's war. However, both Russia and North Korea denied arms transfers to Moscow.
Join the Conversation