Overview
- Sergei Lavrov met Kim Jong Un in Wonsan and delivered President Putin’s greetings as Kim reaffirmed unwavering support for Russia’s war objectives in Ukraine.
- Lavrov and Choe Son Hui concluded the second round of strategic dialogue under their June 2024 mutual defense treaty, confirming plans for additional troop deployments and arms transfers.
- The foreign minister warned the US, South Korea and Japan against forming security partnerships targeting Russia and North Korea.
- Both sides discussed economic cooperation including boosting Russian tourism to the new Wonsan-Kalma resort via enhanced air links.
- A UN report from 11 member states documents North Korea’s 2024 transfer of at least 100 ballistic missiles and 9 million artillery shells to Russia, underscoring the scope of their sanctions-evading cooperation.