North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko and discussed the importance of the two countries' militaries uniting more firmly, North Korean state media said on July 19. Kim and Krivoruchko shared the need for military cooperation between the two countries to defend mutual security interests, the Korean Central News Agency said. Krivoruchko conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim, who expressed deep thanks in the meeting, held on July 18. The report did not provide any other details of Krivoruchko's delegation or the purpose of the visit to North Korea. The United States and its allies have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with arms, including ballistic missiles to use in Ukraine, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
Editors' Picks
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.