Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choi So-hee, who is visiting Moscow, and emphasized further strengthening cooperation with the United States and other countries in mind, and it is believed that coordination is being made for President Putin's visit to North Korea.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Soni, who is visiting Moscow, on the 16th.

At the beginning of the meeting, Foreign Minister Lavrov said, "I would like to discuss expanding cooperation in the practical field," and emphasized further strengthening of cooperation with North Korea.

He also expressed his gratitude for North Korea's position in supporting Russia, saying, "I am grateful for North Korea's position in support of Russia."

In response, Foreign Minister Choi stated that "we are ready to make every effort to thoroughly implement the agreement reached at the historic meeting" based on the summit meeting held in September last year, and expressed his intention to advance cooperation with the military and economic fields in mind.

Foreign Minister Choi is expected to meet with President Putin later.

In addition, Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian President's Office, said on the 9th, "President Putin has been invited to North Korea and will respond at an appropriate time," and it seems that arrangements are being made for President Putin's visit to North Korea in a series of meetings.

It has been pointed out that Russia is using ballistic missiles provided by North Korea in its invasion of Ukraine, and the two countries are expanding cooperation with the United States and other countries in mind.

Russia and North Korea Rapidly Strengthen Military Cooperation

Russia and North Korea are traditional allies with deep historical ties, but since Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine, they have rapidly become closer and have strengthened military cooperation.

From the outset, North Korea has expressed its full support for Russia, which has begun its invasion of Ukraine, and Russia will strengthen its efforts to show its understanding of North Korea's repeated missile launches as it deepens its confrontation with the West.

Russia has condemned North Korea's nuclear and missile development in the past, but Russia exercised its veto power along with China in a resolution on sanctions against North Korea at the United Nations Security Council meeting in May.

It was the first time that a Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea was vetoed.

The close proximity between the two countries was particularly highlighted by the summit meeting between President Putin and General Secretary Kim Jong-un in September last year.

In the second summit meeting since 5, the first in about four and a half years, the two leaders met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Oblast in Russia's Far East and discussed military-technical cooperation.

In addition, General Secretary Kim and President Putin inspected rocket launch pads at the cosmodrome, as well as the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet and aircraft factories that manufacture fighter jets.

In the month following the meeting, suspicions surfaced that North Korea had provided Russia with more than 9,2019 containers of ammunition and other military supplies, and in November, South Korean intelligence agencies suggested that Russia provided technical assistance for the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite, which North Korea announced had succeeded for the first time.

Furthermore, this month, Western countries, Japan, and others strongly condemned Russia and North Korea for using ballistic missiles provided by North Korea in Russia's attacks on Ukraine since the end of last year.

The U.S. government has pointed out that North Korea is asking Russia for military support, such as fighter jets, in return for providing missiles, and concerns about further military cooperation are growing.