Sign in Subscribe
Foreign ministers

Russia and North Korea Deepen Military and Political Ties

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, reaffirming Moscow's support for Pyongyang in the Ukraine conflict. Lavrov met with Kim and North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Wonsan, a city on the country's eastern coast. Lavrov praised Wonsan as a tourist attraction, and Russia has announced plans to launch twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang. The deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea has raised concerns among South Korea and the US that Russia might transfer sensitive technologies to North Korea, increasing the danger of its nuclear and missile programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Russia has reaffirmed its support for North Korea in the Ukraine conflict, with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un stating that his country is "ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis".
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Kim Jong-un and North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Wonsan, praising the city as a tourist attraction and announcing plans for regular flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.
  • Lavrov warned the US, South Korea, and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea, accusing them of military buildups around North Korea.
  • Russia has stepped up aerial strikes over Ukraine in recent months, with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating that the Russians are using terror tactics against his country.
  • The Ukrainian air force reported downing 319 Iranian-made Shahed drones and 25 missiles, with one missile and about 20 drones hitting "five locations" in Ukraine.

Statistics:

  • 26 cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched by Russia overnight, of which more than half were Iranian-made Shahed drones.
  • The Ukrainian air force reported downsing 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles.
  • At least 6 people were killed in the Russian strikes, with 20 people wounded in the south-western Chernivtsi region.
  • The Russian defence ministry stated that it had targeted companies in Ukraine's military-industrial complex in Lviv, Kharkiv, and Lutsk, as well as a military aerodrome.

Sources:

  • KCNA news agency
  • Russian state media Tass
  • Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office

Read more