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 mentioned it might help “all of the measures” taken by Russia in relation to “tackling of the foundation reason for the Ukrainian disaster,” the Korean Central Information Company reported.
On this photograph offered by the North Korean authorities, its chief Kim Jong Un, proper, talks with Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov, second left, in Wonsan, North Korea, Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Korean Central Information Company through AP
The report adopted a gathering on Saturday between North Korean Minister of International Affairs Choe Son Hui and Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov, based on KCNA. Kim additionally met with Lavrov, based on state media, which launched a sequence of images showing to point out the pair partaking in a heat embrace earlier than sitting for talks.
The bilateral talks had been held in Wonsan, a coastal metropolis the place North Korea this yr opened a newly constructed seashore resort.
On this photograph launched by Russian International Ministry Press Service, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and North Korean International Minister Choe Son Hui, proper, attend a signing ceremony following their talks in Wonsan, North Korea, on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Russian International Ministry Press Service through AP
North Korea sought to place the assembly of the highest diplomats as “strategic dialogue,” after which Choe and Lavrov signed “a 2026-2027 alternate 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 mentioned 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 “the entire aims” Russia had for its struggle towards Ukraine. Russia and North Korea final yr inked a mutual-defense pact, based on Russian and North Korean media.
North Korean chief Kim Jong Un greets Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov throughout a gathering in Wonsan, North Korea July 12, 2025.
Korean Central Information Company through Reuters
North Korea despatched a minimum of 10,000 troops to Russia final yr to assist within the struggle towards Ukraine, based on estimates from the Pentagon. The U.S. State Division mentioned final yr that North Korea has shipped arms — together with ballistic missiles and munitions — to Russia to be used in its battle towards Ukraine.
Lavrov mentioned 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, based on Tass, a Russian information company.
