North Korea’s Kim meets Russian minister amid deepening ties | Russia-Ukraine war News

The North Korean leader’s meeting comes amid concerns in Western capitals about growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russia’s energy minister, state media reported, signaling a rapid warming between the countries.

Russian Environment and Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov led a government delegation to Pyongyang to participate in the 11th meeting of the State Committee on Trade, Economy, Science and Technology, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday.

The two met at the headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee, with Kim expressing gratitude for the fact that “the unity and cooperation between the two countries has become closer and deeper in various fields since the conclusion of the new agreement” between North Korea and Russia, KCNA said.

Earlier this month, North Korea struck a historic defense deal with Russia called the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement.

The agreement, which was approved by the Russian parliament on November 6, was first signed in Pyongyang on June 19 during a state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It obligates both countries to provide immediate military assistance to each other using “all means” necessary in the face of “aggression”.

More than 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support Moscow in its war in Ukraine, where they have already taken part in the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, according to intelligence agencies in the United States and South Korea.

Newly installed NATO chief Mark Rutte last month described the development as a “significant escalation” and a “dangerous escalation” of the conflict.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has warned that North Korea “may ask” Moscow for advanced nuclear weapons technology in exchange for sending troops.

After his meeting with Kozlov on Tuesday, Kim said the sides should promote “intergovernmental exchange, economic, scientific and technological exchange and cooperation in a broad and diverse manner”, according to KCNA.

Kim added that Russia-North Korea relations had “reached a new strategic level”, according to a state media source.

A delegation from the Military Academy of the General Staff also arrived in the North Korean capital on Monday, according to state media, while a delegation from the Pyongyang city council headed to Russia.

The purpose of these delegations was not yet clear.