Russia and North Korea on Tuesday advocated closer collaboration including in the defence sector, the latest show of deepening ties between the countries at odds with the United States
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “stressed the need to further develop tactical and strategic cooperation and interaction between the two countries in the fields of defence and security,” the country’s defence minister said in a statement carried by the state-run RIA Novosti agency.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Tuesday called for deeper ties, in a congratulatory message to Kim marking his country’s National Liberation Day.
The leaders’ statements came after Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu last month hailed Russia’s partnership with North Korea during a meeting with his counterpart Kang Sun Nam in Pyongyang.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded to the visit saying the United States believed Shoigu was in North Korea to secure supplies of weapons to aid Russian forces fighting in Ukraine