On July 11th, local time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Yeosu City, North Korea, to commence an official visit to the country.
Lavrov’s Visit to North Korea – RFE/RL
Yeosu is a port city located in the eastern part of North Korea, on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and the capital of Gangwon Province. Not only is it one of North Korea’s important gateways for external exchanges, but it also frequently serves as a venue for welcoming high-level foreign delegations. Due to its strategic location near the金刚山 tourist area and the military base at Yeosu Air Force Base, Yeosu holds significant strategic importance in North Korea’s diplomatic and security affairs.
According to reports from RFE/RL, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova previously announced that Lavrov’s visit would coincide with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hee to attend the second round of Russia-North Korea strategic dialogue. The first round of talks took place in Moscow in January 2024.
Additionally, according to TASS news, the focus of Lavrov’s discussions with Choe Son Hee will revolve around the situation in Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula. Both parties will also discuss the progress of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement” signed in June.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko stated that both Russia and North Korea are committed to elevating their “traditional friendship and neighborly relations” to a new level of “allies.” He also revealed that Russia plans to continue sending more senior delegations to North Korea within the year.
Following Russia’s schedule, after his trip to North Korea, Lavrov will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) ministerial meeting, which is scheduled to take place from July 14th to 15th.