logo
Russia, North Korea foreign ministers meet, Pyongyang backs Ukraine war

Russia, North Korea foreign ministers meet, Pyongyang backs Ukraine war

Time of India12-07-2025
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his North Korean counterpart in the coastal city of Wonsan on Saturday, during which Pyongyang reaffirmed its support for Russia's military actions in Ukraine, the TASS state news agency reported.
Lavrov flew out of Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Friday following the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, arriving the same day in Wonsan, North Korea, home to a newly opened seaside resort but also known for its missile and naval facilities.
Lavrov's visit is the latest high-level meeting between the two countries as they upgrade their strategic cooperation to now include a mutual defence pact.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
What Happens When You Massage Baking Soda Into Your Scalp
Lintmit.com
Read More
"We exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis ... Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces," TASS quoted Lavrov as saying.
The South Korean intelligence service has said North Korea may be preparing to deploy additional troops in July or August, after sending more than 10,000 soldiers to fight with Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Live Events
North Korea has agreed to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a mass cross-border incursion nearly a year ago.
Russian news agencies also reported Lavrov's arrival and said after North Korea he is expected to travel to China to attend the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting
, which is set to take place on Monday and Tuesday.
TASS said the new Wonsan coastal resort could boost Russian tourism to North Korea, citing the resumption of direct trains from Moscow to Pyongyang and a project to build a bridge across the Tumen River forming part of the boundary between North Korea, China and Russia.
TASS quoted Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying more high-level delegations would visit North Korea later this year.
Rudenko said the accord on strategic partnership "clearly meets the changing needs over recent decades and strengthens traditionally friendly, good-neighbourly Russian-Korean relations to a qualitatively new level as allies."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kim Jong Un's sister rejects outreach by South Korea's new president
Kim Jong Un's sister rejects outreach by South Korea's new president

New Indian Express

time27 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Kim Jong Un's sister rejects outreach by South Korea's new president

SEOUL: The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rebuffed overtures by South Korea's new liberal government Monday, saying that its “blind trust” in the country's alliance with the US and hostility toward North Korea make it no different from its conservative predecessor. Kim Yo Jong's comments imply that North Korea - now preoccupied with its expanding cooperation with Russia - sees no need to resume diplomacy with South Korea and the US anytime soon. Experts say she likely hopes to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington. “We clarify once again the official stand that no matter what policy is adopted and whatever proposal is made in Seoul, we have no interest in it and there is neither a reason to meet nor an issue to be discussed,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media. It is North Korea's first official statement on the government of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, which took office in early June with a promise to improve badly frayed ties with North Korea. Lee's government has halted anti-Pyongyang frontline loudspeaker broadcasts, taken steps to ban activists from flying balloons with propaganda leaflets across the border, and repatriated North Koreans who were drifted south in wooden boats months earlier. North Korea complains of South Korea-US military drills North Korea has shunned talks with South Korea and the US since leader Kim Jong Un's high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019 due to wrangling over international sanctions. North Korea has since focused on building more powerful nuclear weapons targeting its rivals and declared a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula to terminate relations with South Korea. Kim Yo Jong called Lee's steps “sincere efforts” to develop ties, but said the new government still plots to “stand in confrontation” with North Korea. She mentioned the upcoming summertime South Korea-US military drills, which North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. Lee said it's important to restore trust between the Koreas as he met Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and asked about his thought on the latest North Korean statement.

Indian envoy to UK responds to criticism over purchase of Russian oil: 'Can't switch off its economy'
Indian envoy to UK responds to criticism over purchase of Russian oil: 'Can't switch off its economy'

Hindustan Times

time31 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Indian envoy to UK responds to criticism over purchase of Russian oil: 'Can't switch off its economy'

Over the past month, India, along with China and Brazil, has been at the centre of criticism from the West, mainly the US, for its purchase of Russian oil.(PTI) As the war in Ukraine rages on, several Western countries, led by the United States, have called out India and other nations for their purchase of Russian oil and other trade practices. In response to this criticism, Indian high commissioner to the UK said a country 'can't just switch off its economy'. Speaking to UK-based Times Radio last week, the Indian envoy Vikram K Doraiswami stated that while the West is criticising India for buying Russian oil, many European countries "continue to buy rare earth mineral from the same countries it does not want India to buy from." "Europe continues to buy rare earths from the same country they don't want India to buy oil from. You don't think that's a little odd?" he asked the journalist. The envoy further explained that India and Russia's "energy relationship" only started after New Delhi was displaced from other sources. "So we've been displaced out of the energy market largely, and the costs have gone up. We are the third-largest consumer of energy in the world. We import over 80% of our product. What would you have us do? Switch off our economy," said Doraiswami. "We also see around us relationships that other countries maintain for their own convenience with countries that are a source of difficulty for us. Do we ask you to come up with a little test of loyalty?" he said, adding that many Western nations did not sell India weapons, but would sell them to neighbouring countries, which would then use the same weapons to attack India. India slammed for close ties with Russia Over the past month, India, along with China and Brazil, has been at the centre of criticism from the West, mainly the US, for its purchase of Russian oil. US president Donald Trump has warned India and other BRICS nations of additional tariffs if the countries did not stop its trade with Russia. A similar warning was echoed by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who warned of 100 percent tariffs against India, China and Brazil if they did not pressure Russia to arrive at a ceasefire deal with Ukraine in 50 days. US senator and Trump aide Lindsey Graham has also been a vocal critic of India's ties with Russia and warned New Delhi, China and others of 'stern tariffs' from Trump. 'Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil: China, India, and Brazil. Those three countries buy about 80 per cent of cheap Russian oil, and that's what keeps (Vladimir) Putin's war machine going. So, President Trump is going to put a 100 per cent tariff on all those countries, punishing them for helping Putin,' Graham told FOX News.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store