North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko and discussed the importance of the two countries' militaries uniting more firmly, North Korean state media said on July 19. Kim and Krivoruchko shared the need for military cooperation between the two countries to defend mutual security interests, the Korean Central News Agency said. Krivoruchko conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim, who expressed deep thanks in the meeting, held on July 18. The report did not provide any other details of Krivoruchko's delegation or the purpose of the visit to North Korea. The United States and its allies have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with arms, including ballistic missiles to use in Ukraine, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
North Korea's Kim Discusses Military Cooperation With Russian Official
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko (file photo)