Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to visit North Korea next month

SEOUL – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit North Korea in October, following a rare summit between the two countries’ leaders in September, Yonhap News reported.

Mr Lavrov will go to the capital Pyongyang in October, Russia’s top diplomat told reporters at a press conference in New York on Saturday, according to Yonhap. The visit follows an agreement between the leaders of the two nations, Yonhap cited Mr Lavrov as saying.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un travelled to Russia in September for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in their first meeting in about four years. The United States said Pyongyang’s supply of arms to help Moscow’s military action in Ukraine was likely the focus of the talks.

Mr Putin accepted Mr Kim’s invitation to visit North Korea, and so this may be the agenda for Mr Lavrov’s trip, Yonhap said.

During his Russia trip, Mr Kim also met Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, inspected next-generation missile systems, and toured a factory that makes fighter jets and other aircraft. Mr Kim’s Russia visit was one of his longest abroad since taking power about a decade ago.

The US has for months accused Mr Kim of providing arms and ammunitions to aid Mr Putin’s war on Ukraine, including sending shells and rockets. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations.