Top Russian security offical makes surprise visit to Pyongyang

Moscow, Sep 13 (EFE).- The head of Russia’s Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, arrived on Friday in Pyongyang, where he had a «meaningful exchange of views» with North Korean officials and was received by the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, the Russian body said.

«On September 13, a delegation led by Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, visited Pyongyang,» the Council said in statement, state-news agency Sputnik reported.

«During this visit, which forms part of the ongoing strategic dialogue between our countries, there was a meaningful exchange of views with our Korean colleagues on a variety of bilateral and international issues,» it added.

Since the beginning of the war with Ukraine, Shoigu, who until May was the defense minister, has traveled to North Korea multiple times to discuss the supply of North Korean weapons to the Russian military, according to media reports.

North Korea has expressed full support for Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine and has supplied Moscow with several million artillery shells, as well as short-range ballistic missiles, which have already been used in Ukraine, according to South Korea’s intelligence.

This week, the United States announced new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Moscow. EFE

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