N. Korea, Russia reaffirm strong ties in foreign ministers' talks: reports

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is seen arriving in Wonsan, North Korea, 11 July 2025, in this handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service. Lavrov is in North Korea for a three-day working visit. EPA-Yonhap

WASHINGTON/SEOUL — North Korea and Russia reaffirmed their strong ties Saturday during a meeting of their top diplomats in a coastal North Korean resort city, Russian news agencies reported.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Wonsan for the second round of strategic talks between the two countries, a day after Lavrov arrived in the city, where a tourist zone opened earlier this month, according to TASS.

In opening remarks, Lavrov reaffirmed Choe's earlier description of their bilateral ties as an "invincible military brotherhood," citing North Korean troops who fought alongside Russian soldiers against Ukrainian forces in Russia's western region of Kursk.

He also pledged to make efforts so that more Russian tourists will visit the resort city, such as increasing flights, TASS reported.

Choe reaffirmed her country's support for Russia, describing their ties as rising to an "unbreakable" level.

"The strategic choice and will of the DPRK government is to defend, unconditionally and consistently support Russia's policy of protecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity," TASS quoted her as saying.

DPRK stands for North Korea's official name -- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Lavrov's trip to the North will last until Sunday, when he is set to fly to China to attend a foreign ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states.

His trip comes as Moscow and Pyongyang have been reinforcing their broad-based cooperation since Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty during a summit in Pyongyang in June last year.