North Korean foreign minister arrives in Russia for high-level talks with Lavrov

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has departed for Moscow to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, state media reported on Sunday, as diplomatic and military cooperation between the two countries continues to expand.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Choe Son Hui and her delegation left Pyongyang for Russia aboard "her personal plane" on July 18.

Russia's foreign ministry had previously announced the visit by the representative of one of Moscow's closest allies and a strong supporter of its war in Ukraine.

Defence ties have grown since Putin's visit

Relations between the two countries have strengthened since Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang in 2024, when the two sides signed a defence agreement.

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North Korea has supplied missiles, munitions and thousands of troops to support Russia in Ukraine. Analysts say Moscow has, in return, provided the diplomatically isolated country with financial aid, military technology, food and energy.

In April, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to help Russia win what he described as its "sacred" war.

The same month, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and several other senior Russian officials travelled to Pyongyang for discussions on expanding military cooperation.

Belousov said Moscow was ready to sign a cooperation plan covering the period 2027-2031.

International criticism of partnership

The growing partnership between North Korea and Russia has drawn criticism from South Korea and the European Union.

North Korea's foreign ministry has rejected the criticism, saying cooperation with Russia is an "exercise of sovereign rights".