North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu on Thursday to discuss military cooperation and regional security, according to state media.
Shoygu led a Russian team to Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s “Victory Day” celebrations.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim met with the team on Wednesday at the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee’s headquarters building and discussed measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
A Russian delegation, as well as a Chinese delegation, were present at the midnight grand celebration event in Pyongyang.
North Korea observes the signing of the armistice as “Victory Day” in what it refers to as the Great Fatherland Liberation War. The conflict began on June 25, 1950, and ended on July 27, 1953, when the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
According to the source, Kim and the Russian team also attended the Weaponry Exhibition-2023 event, which featured modern weaponry and equipment.
A ceremony was conducted at the Joint Security Area between North and South Korea, attended by veterans and family members from member countries.
“I pledge tonight that the @UN_Command will defend the #Armistice that has upheld peace for 25566, one day short of 7 decades,” said Lt. Gen. Andrew Harrison, deputy commander of the UN Command, on Twitter. And thus it is my happy duty to thank all those, alive and dead, who have fought for the Republic of #Korea on the Peninsula under the United Nations banner.”