Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the country’s Wonsan city. The meeting came ahead of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, during which thousands of North Korean soldiers have been killed. Pyongyang reaffirmed its support for Moscow’s objectives in Ukraine, saying it would continue to provide military aid and conventional weapons.
Lavrov visited North Korea as part of a series of high-profile trips by top Russian officials, aimed at deepening military and political ties with the country. The visit marks one of several times this year that Russia has sent senior officials to Pyongyang to discuss cooperation.
North Korea’s military losses in the Ukraine war have been significant, with over 6,000 soldiers reported killed. In return, Moscow has received military engineers and builders from North Korea to aid reconstruction efforts in Russia’s Kursk region.
US intelligence suggests that North Korea may be preparing to deploy additional troops to the area in July or August. This has raised concerns among US and South Korean officials that Kim Jong Un may seek Russian technology transfers to enhance his nuclear-armed military capabilities.
Lavrov met with his counterpart Choe Son Hui during the visit, where they discussed Russia’s efforts in Ukraine. The meeting comes amid a broader effort by Russia to expand its military cooperation with North Korea, with the two countries signing a sweeping military deal last November.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/12/russias-lavrov-meets-kim-jong-un-in-north-korea-with-ukraine-war-at-fore