Pyongyang - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a significant meeting with Russia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, during a rare visit to the isolated country. Both sides pledged to strengthen their ties, as reported by state media KCNA.

During the meeting, Shoigu presented Kim with a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was gratefully acknowledged by Kim. He expressed his appreciation for the military delegation led by Shoigu, highlighting how the meeting further solidified the "strategic and traditional DPRK (North Korea)-Russia relations."

This week, in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, North Korea celebrated "Victory Day" and welcomed both the Russian and Chinese delegations, which included Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong. Notably, these groups mark the first prominent public visitors to North Korea since the start of the pandemic.

During a banquet in Pyongyang, Shoigu praised the North Korean military, labeling it as the "most powerful" in the world, as reported by news agency Yonhap, citing the Korean Central Broadcasting Station.

The commendation came during his meeting with North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam. The details and implications of these meetings are closely monitored by the international community as they unfold.