North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un has met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice.
The pair discussed military issues on Wednesday, North Korea’s state broadcaster Voice of Korea reported on Thursday.
Shoigu and Kim exchanged issues of mutual concern in the field of national defense and security and the estimation of and opinions on the regional and international security environment.’’
In the meeting, they reached a consensus of views, the broadcaster reported.
Shoigu has taken part in various celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary.
The three-day visit to Pyongyang would strengthen Russian-North Korean military cooperation and was an important step in the development of bilateral cooperation, the Russian Defense Ministry said prior to the trip.
The U.S. suspects North Korea of supporting Russia with weapons in its war against Ukraine.
The Wagner mercenary group, which fights alongside Russia’s regular forces, is also said to have been equipped with weapons by Pyongyang.
North Korea has repeatedly denied providing weapons and ammunition to Russia.
North Korea was largely isolated internationally because of its nuclear missile program, but maintains loose contact with two permanent members of the UN Security Council of China and Russia.
The country has been run dictatorially by the Kim dynasty since the 1950s.
July 27, which marks the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement which put an end to the fighting in 1953, is celebrated in Pyongyang as Victory Day.
The armistice divided Korea into two states along the 38th parallel.
Some two million to four million Koreans were killed in the war between 1950 and 1953, according to estimates.
