North Korea’s Kim meets Russian minister amid deepening ties
Al Jazeera
North Korean leader’s meeting comes amid concern in Western capitals over growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met with Russia’s resources minister, state media has reported, in the latest indication of rapidly warming relations between the countries.
Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov led a government delegation to Pyongyang to take part in the 11th meeting of the DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday.
The pair met at the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee headquarters, with Kim expressing appreciation for the fact that “bilateral solidarity and cooperation have been closer and deepened in different fields since the conclusion of a new treaty between” North Korea and Russia, the KCNA said.
Earlier this month, North Korea ratified a landmark mutual defence treaty with Russia called the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The treaty, ratified by Russia’s parliament on November 6, was first signed in Pyongyang on June 19 during a state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
