Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, currently on an official visit to North Korea, has affirmed Moscow's unwavering support for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. During his visit, Lavrov also

expressed gratitude for North Korea's assistance in the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

Lavrov's visit serves as a prelude to a potential visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea. Notably, the United States recently alleged that North Korea had initiated substantial arms shipments to Russia for use in the Ukrainian conflict.

This two-day trip by Lavrov comes after Kim Jong Un's extensive visit to Russia in September, his first overseas visit since the pandemic, where he met with President Putin to explore prospects for military cooperation.

In a formal reception on Wednesday, Lavrov declared Moscow's "complete support" for Kim Jong Un and accused the United States and its allies of provoking a "war against the Russian Federation." He indicated that the purpose of his visit was to discuss the implementation of the agreements reached during the recent meeting between Putin and Kim, though he did not provide further details.

It remains uncertain whether Lavrov will hold a meeting with Kim Jong Un during this current visit, as he did during his previous trip to Pyongyang in 2018. However, Washington has cautioned that Russia's acquisition of weaponry from North Korea for the Ukrainian conflict would contravene United Nations resolutions.

Recently, the U.S. presented intelligence and evidence suggesting the transfer of ammunition and artillery had commenced. Satellite images revealed that 300 containers had been transported from North Korea's Nanjin port to Russia's eastern coast near Dunay in early September. Subsequently, they were transported to a military depot close to the Ukrainian border in Tikhoretsk.

Moscow's interest in North Korean arms stems from their compatibility with Russian weapon systems, according to experts. North Korea possesses a significant arsenal due to its unresolved conflict with South Korea, as the two nations technically remain at war.

International sanctions and pandemic-related restrictions, which have only begun easing recently, have placed North Korea's economy in a precarious state, resulting in shortages of essential goods such as food and medicine. Some analysts speculate that Kim Jong Un may have sought humanitarian aid during the alleged arms transaction with Russia in September. However, North Korea may be cautious about providing too much ammunition given its limited resources.

Over the past six months, both North Korea and Russia have expressed their commitment to enhancing their bilateral relations as they grapple with growing international isolation. photo by Xiehechaotian, Wikimedia commons.