ARTYOM GEODAKYAN, SPUTNIK, PHOTO OF THE KREMLIN SWIMMING POOL VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
Russian President Vladimir Putin today greets North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at his assembly at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia.
MOSCOW>> Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have won over North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui over talks on expanding ties between the two countries, amid foreign considerations over the so-called arms cooperation agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Lavrov met with Choe the day before and said at the start of the assembly that they would talk about “active work” to implement the agreements reached through the leaders of the two countries.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia in September to meet Putin and visit several military sites, sparking concerns about an arms alliance that would help Moscow replenish its arsenals during the fighting in Ukraine.
Putin met with Choe and Lavrov later in the day, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that foreign ministers briefed Putin on the agreements reached. Peskov did address the main points of the agreements.
Earlier today, Peskov said that the Russian president will visit North Korea on Kim’s invitation “at a convenient time” and based “on mutual agreement.”
Lavrov noted that Moscow “highly appreciates” Pyongyang’s support for Russia’s military action in Ukraine, and mentioned “close and fruitful cooperation” between the countries at the United Nations and other international organizations.
“We will take every effort to develop our relations,” Choe said.
The United States and South Korea have accused North Korea of providing artillery munitions and missiles for Russia to use in Ukraine. Earlier this month, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Russia already had used ballistic missiles provided by North Korea to strike Ukraine.
Russia and North Korea have rejected accusations of North Korean transfers to Russia.
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