Russian foreign minister offers security talks with North Korea, China as he visits Pyongyang

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The Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, during his visit to Pyongyang, has proposed regular security talks with North Korea and China in response to what he perceives as growing U.S.-led military threats in the region. Lavrov’s visit follows a summit in September between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which aimed to strengthen defense ties between the two countries.

Recent reports from the United States allege that North Korea has transferred munitions to Russia, potentially to enhance its fighting capabilities in Ukraine, in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting such weapons trading with North Korea.

During his visit, Lavrov held talks with Kim Jong Un and his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui. While specific details of these discussions remain undisclosed, Lavrov expressed support for regular security talks on the Korean Peninsula involving North Korea and China. He cited concerns about the increased military activities of the United States, Japan, and South Korea, as well as Washington’s efforts to relocate strategic infrastructure, including nuclear elements, in the region. Lavrov emphasized his opposition to these developments, advocating for a de-escalation of tensions.

The U.S. has responded to North Korea’s missile tests by conducting more frequent military drills with South Korea and deploying additional military assets around the Korean Peninsula. Trilateral military exercises with Japan have also resumed.

One key point of interest during Lavrov’s visit is whether Russia and North Korea will provide indications of how they plan to solidify their security cooperation or announce the timing of Putin’s promised visit to Pyongyang in return for Kim’s visit to Russia’s Far East. Kim’s previous trip to Russia involved visits to crucial Russian weapon-making sites and raised speculation about a potential exchange of sophisticated Russian technologies for conventional arms.

In the wake of the summit between Putin and Kim, Lavrov highlighted the elevated strategic level of relations between Russia and North Korea. Choe, Kim’s counterpart, expressed that their meeting would play a pivotal role in implementing the agreements reached during the summit.

Lavrov also acknowledged North Korea’s support for Russia in its conflict in Ukraine and its recognition of Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. North Korean state media reported Lavrov’s praise for North Korea’s resilience against U.S. and Western pressure, and the establishment of an “unbreakable comradely relationship” between Pyongyang and Moscow under the leadership of Kim and Putin.

The White House has claimed that North Korea delivered over 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia. Images released by the White House purportedly show these containers being loaded onto a Russian-flagged ship and then transported via train to southwestern Russia. While North Korea denies these allegations, South Korean officials assert that North Korean weapons sent to Russia have been used in Ukraine.

South Korea closely monitors Lavrov’s visit to North Korea and emphasizes that any cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang should comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions. Despite Lavrov’s statements of support, international sanctions against North Korea are expected to persist, and the country’s nuclear status remains unrecognized.

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