LONDON — North Korea and its chief, Kim Jong Un, will proceed to “unconditionally assist and encourage” Russia’s battle in Ukraine, North Korean state media reported on Sunday.
North Korea stated it could assist “all of the measures” taken by Russia in relation to “tackling of the basis explanation for the Ukrainian disaster,” the Korean Central Information Company reported.
On this picture offered by the North Korean authorities, its chief Kim Jong Un, proper, talks with Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov, second left, in Wonsan, North Korea, Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Korean Central Information Company through AP
The report adopted a gathering on Saturday between North Korean Minister of Overseas Affairs Choe Son Hui and Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov, in response to KCNA. Kim additionally met with Lavrov, in response to state media, which launched a collection of images showing to point out the pair partaking in a heat embrace earlier than sitting for talks.
The bilateral talks have been held in Wonsan, a coastal metropolis the place North Korea this yr opened a newly constructed seashore resort.
On this picture launched by Russian Overseas Ministry Press Service, Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and North Korean Overseas Minister Choe Son Hui, proper, attend a signing ceremony following their talks in Wonsan, North Korea, on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Russian Overseas Ministry Press Service through AP
North Korea sought to place the assembly of the highest diplomats as “strategic dialogue,” after which Choe and Lavrov signed “a 2026-2027 alternate plan,” though state media stopped in need of saying what was in that plan. The pair mentioned “mutual cooperation within the worldwide arenas,” KCNA reported.
Lavrov on Thursday had met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Malaysia, after which Rubio stated he shared U.S. President Donald Trump’s “disappointment and frustration” with their Russian counterparts.
Lavrov was quoted in Russian state-affiliated media on Sunday saying that “our Korean mates” had once more confirmed assist for “all the aims” Russia had for its battle towards Ukraine. Russia and North Korea final yr inked a mutual-defense pact, in response to Russian and North Korean media.
North Korean chief Kim Jong Un greets Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov throughout a gathering in Wonsan, North Korea July 12, 2025.
Korean Central Information Company through Reuters
North Korea despatched at the least 10,000 troops to Russia final yr to help within the battle towards Ukraine, in response to estimates from the Pentagon. The U.S. State Division stated final yr that North Korea has shipped arms — together with ballistic missiles and munitions — to Russia to be used in its battle towards Ukraine.
Lavrov stated on Saturday that Russia “as soon as once more expressed our honest gratitude for the contribution of Korea Individuals’s military servicemen” who fought alongside Russian troops in Kursk, the place Ukraine had mounted an offensive into Russia, in response to Tass, a Russian information company.
