North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss military issues and the regional security environment, state media say.
The meeting further illustrated North Korea’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine as the isolated country celebrated the 70th anniversary of an armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War.
North Korea has aligned with Russia over the war in Ukraine, insisting that the “hegemonic policy” of the US-led West forced Moscow to take military action to protect its security interests.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia to aid its fighting in Ukraine. Pyongyang has denied the claim.
Resolutions of the UN Security Council, supported in prior years by the council’s permanent members, including Russia and China, prohibit North Korea from developing weapons that use ballistic missile technology.
“(Kim) expressed his views on the issues of mutual concern in the struggle to safeguard the sovereignty, development and interests of the two countries from the high-handed and arbitrary practices of the imperialists and to realize international justice and peace,” it said.
“He repeatedly expressed belief that the Russian army and people would achieve big successes in the struggle for building a powerful country,” it said.
