Moscow - Upon his arrival in Pyongyang, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed gratitude to North Korea for its support in Russia's conflict with Ukraine. This visit followed recent reports from the United States claiming that North Korea had supplied munitions to Russia to enhance its military capabilities.

Russian state television broadcast scenes of Lavrov being warmly welcomed by enthusiastic crowds in the rain, alongside a reception party brandishing pompoms. Lavrov noted that his visit offered an opportunity to discuss the undisclosed agreements made between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their meeting at Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome in September.

At a subsequent reception, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui conveyed that the two nations were cultivating an "unbreakable comradely relationship" under the "strategic" guidance of Kim and Putin, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

Lavrov, in his address, expressed Russia's profound appreciation for North Korea's unwavering and principled support in its conflict with Ukraine, as well as North Korea's decision to recognize the independence of Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, according to statements from Russia's Foreign Ministry. Lavrov also commended North Korea for resolutely defending its sovereignty and security in the face of pressure from the U.S. and the West, with Russia firmly endorsing Kim's government's policies to safeguard its security and economic interests.

Earlier in the week, Lavrov accompanied Putin on a visit to Beijing, emphasizing China's backing of Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

The September meeting between Kim and Putin had raised concerns in Western countries about a potential arms alliance, in which North Korea would supply munitions to Russia to support its war in Ukraine in exchange for advanced Russian technologies to bolster Kim's military and nuclear program.

Upon his arrival in Pyongyang, Lavrov praised the historic significance of Putin's meeting with Kim, highlighting the deep mutual interest in expanding comprehensive cooperation.

The White House reported that North Korea had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby suggested that Kim might be seeking advanced Russian weapons technologies in return for munitions to enhance North Korea's military and nuclear capabilities.

The recent flurry of diplomacy between Moscow and Pyongyang underscores the alignment of their interests as they both face escalating confrontations with the United States.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea in July for meetings with Kim, who also invited him to a military parade in Pyongyang showcasing North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the United States. Kim's visit to Russia in September marked his first foreign trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his two-day visit, Lavrov is expected to meet with Choe. While Putin has accepted an invitation from Kim to visit North Korea, the timing of the visit has not been announced.