Call North Korea An Important Partner, Kremlin: Focus On Development Of Cooperation In All Fields, Including Sensitive

JAKARTA - Russia is developing its relations with North Korea in all fields, including "sensitive" areas, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui praised Russia's friendly relations on Tuesday in Moscow, during rare talks at the Kremlin with President Vladimir Putin, who Kim Jong-un had invited to visit the country.

When asked about talks in Moscow, Peskov said the situation on the Korean Peninsula had been discussed, but its main focus was on developing bilateral relations.

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is our very important partner, and we focus on further development of our relationship in all areas, including in sensitive areas," Peskov said.

President Putin is known to have deepened ties with North Korea since sending troops to Ukraine in 2022.

Later, the United States and its allies condemned what they said was a significant shipment of North Korean missiles to Russia to help its war efforts.

Both Russia and North Korea have repeatedly rejected the criticism. Moscow says it will develop relations with any country it wants and its cooperation with Pyongyang does not conflict with international agreements.

Russia has gone to great lengths to publish the resurgence of its relations, including military relations, with North Korea, which was formed in 1948 with support from the Soviet Union.

For President Putin, who said Russia was involved in a fierce battle with the West over Ukraine, a approach to Leader Kim allowed him to attack Washington and its allies in Asia while securing a large supply of artillery for the war in Ukraine.