Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his North Korean counterpart in Wonsan on Saturday, July 12th. According to Russian state news agency TASS, during the meeting Pyongyang reaffirmed its support for Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
Lavrov flew out of Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Friday following the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, arriving the same day in Wonsan, North Korea, home to a newly opened seaside resort but also known for its missile and naval facilities.
“We exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis … Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces,” TASS quoted Lavrov as saying.
As we reported, according to South Korean intelligence, North Korea may be preparing to deploy additional troops in July or August to Ukraine.
North Korea has agreed to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a mass cross-border incursion nearly a year ago.
Russian press said Lavrov is expected to travel on to China from North Korea, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, which is set to take place on Monday and Tuesday.
