When Kim visited Russia for six days last month, a trip that included meeting with Putin, Russian and North Korean officials said that boosting defense ties between the two countries was discussed but they didn’t disclose any specific steps.
On Thursday, Lavrov and Kim exchanged views on joint efforts to expand bilateral ties in all areas and discussed other key issues of mutual concern, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported. It said Kim expressed his resolve to carry out unspecified agreements he reached with Putin.
Lavrov described the talks as “comprehensive” and said, “We have an understanding on how to proceed to fulfill the agreements” between Putin and Kim.
After he arrived in Pyongyang, Lavrov gave a speech in which he said that Russia deeply valued North Korea’s “unwavering and principled support” for its military operation in Ukraine. Back in Moscow, he stressed that the effort to deepen the relationship between Russia and North Korea was based on bilateral concerns.
“Our friendship isn’t directed against anyone. It’s intended to help promote mutually beneficial projects,” he said.
Lavrov also told reporters that he supports holding regular talks on security issues on the Korean Peninsula with North Korea and China.
Source: CNA
