LONDON — North Korea and its chief, Kim Jong Un, will proceed to “unconditionally help and encourage” Russia’s battle in Ukraine, North Korean state media reported on Sunday.
North Korea stated it could help “all of the measures” taken by Russia in relation to “tackling of the basis reason behind 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 by way of 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 line with KCNA. Kim additionally met with Lavrov, in line with state media, which launched a sequence of pictures showing to indicate the pair participating 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 12 months 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 by way of AP
North Korea sought to place the assembly of the highest diplomats as “strategic dialogue,” after which Choe and Lavrov signed “a 2026-2027 change plan,” though state media stopped wanting 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 pals” had once more confirmed help for “all the aims” Russia had for its combat towards Ukraine. Russia and North Korea final 12 months inked a mutual-defense pact, in line with 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 by way of Reuters
North Korea despatched no less than 10,000 troops to Russia final 12 months to help within the combat towards Ukraine, in line with estimates from the Pentagon. The U.S. State Division stated final 12 months 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 line with Tass, a Russian information company.
