Kim Jong-un: North Korea "Unconditionally" Supports Moscow in Resolving the Ukraine-Russia Conflict
According to North Korean state media on Sunday (July 13), North Korean leader Kim Jong-un told Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, who was visiting, that North Korea would provide Russia with "unconditional" support in the war in Ukraine and is convinced that Moscow will "surely" win.
According to KCNA, Kim Jong-un received Lavrov in an atmosphere filled with "trust and warm comradely feelings." The Russian Foreign Ministry also released a video on Telegram showing the two shaking hands and hugging during their meeting.
North Korea and Russia are continuously upgrading their diplomatic and military relations. The two sides signed a mutual defense agreement last year, and North Korea has provided Russia with artillery shells and missiles for the war in Ukraine, and sent thousands of North Korean soldiers to support Russian operations in the Kursk region.
KCNA reported that Kim Jong-un told Lavrov, "North Korea is willing to unconditionally support all actions taken by Moscow to resolve the Ukraine conflict." He also believed that Russia would surely win, and the two sides also discussed implementing the strategic cooperation agreement signed after Putin's rare visit to North Korea in 2024.
Lavrov said that Putin hopes to "soon" have direct contact with Kim Jong-un. However, according to RIA Novosti, the Kremlin responded when asked this week whether Kim Jong-un would visit Russia, stating that there are currently no such plans.
The meeting between Kim Jong-un and Lavrov took place in Wonsan, a city on the east coast of North Korea, where a large tourist complex recently opened.
Lavrov also met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in Wonsan, expressing gratitude for the "bravery" of North Korean soldiers assisting Russia in the war. According to TASS, when asked whether North Korea would send more troops to other front lines in the Ukraine-Russia war, Lavrov said it depends on Pyongyang's decision.
Before Lavrov's visit to North Korea, Russian Security Council Secretary Shoigu had just visited Pyongyang in May.
According to TASS, Lavrov has already left North Korea on Sunday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ministerial meeting in China.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837521057756427/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.