JAKARTA - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his North Korean counterpart in the coastal town of Wonsan on Saturday. During the meeting, Pyongyang reiterated its support for Russian military action in Ukraine, state news agency TASS reported.
Lavrov flew from Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Friday after a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers and arrived in Wonsan, North Korea, which is a newly opened seaside resort site and is also known for its missile and naval facilities.
Lavrov's visit is the latest high-level meeting between the two countries as they increase their strategic cooperation which now includes a joint defense pact.
"We exchanged views on the situation around the Ukraine crisis. Our Korean friends affirm their firm support for all the objectives of special military operations, as well as against the actions of Russia's leadership and armed forces," Lavrov said.
South Korean intelligence services said North Korea may be preparing to deploy additional troops in July or August, after sending more than 10,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in the fight against Ukraine.
North Korea has agreed to send 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops launched mass cross-border attacks nearly a year ago.
Russian news agency also reported on Lavrov's arrival and said after North Korea, he was expected to travel to China to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which is scheduled to take place on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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TASS said the new Wonsan coastal resort could increase Russia's tourism to North Korea, citing the resumption of direct trains from Moscow to Pyongyang and the bridge construction project over the Tumen River which is part of the border between North Korea, China and Russia.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said more high-level delegates would visit North Korea later this year.
"The strategic partnership agreement clearly meets the changing needs over the past few decades and strengthens Russia-Korean relations that have been friendly and friendly to a qualitatively new level as allies," he said.
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