North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held talks with Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu during his visit to the country, Pyongyang’s state media reported.
Shoigu’s visit comes as Moscow scrambles for munitions to continue its more than 30-month offensive in Ukraine, and as the West accuses Pyongyang of sending weapons to Moscow. President Vladimir Putin traveled to North Korea in June and signed a mutual defense pact with the reclusive state.
“There was a broad exchange of views on the strategic dialogue between the two countries and strengthening cooperation to defend each other’s security interests, as well as on the regional and international situation,” North Korea’s state media said, confirming the meeting. Kim “said the DPRK government will expand cooperation and synergy” with Russia on the basis of the treaty signed in June, it added, using the country’s official name.
Russia’s Security Council also said on its website that Shoigu’s meeting with Kim “will make an important contribution to the implementation” of the defense agreement. Shoigu heads the Russian Security Council after resigning as defense minister in May.
Experts have long believed that North Korean missiles are deployed in Ukraine. A new report from Conflict Armament Research this week used analysis of debris to show that “missiles produced this year in North Korea are being deployed in Ukraine.” Moscow has historical ties with Pyongyang since the Soviet Union helped found North Korea, but they have strengthened ties since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine that severed ties with the West.
Reproduction © Copyright ANSA
“Coffee fan. Tv specialist. Social media aficionado. Zombie geek. Evil analyst. Web expert.”
