Russian FM to Visit Pyongyang This Week

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visits North Korea on Wednesday and Thursday, according to North Korea's state media on Monday.

Lavrov's visit to Pyongyang comes after the U.S. government disclosed that the North delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week that the U.S. believes that North Korea is seeking Russian weapons technologies in return.

The South Korean government is watching closely whether North Korea and Russia will step up military cooperation. Earlier, the North announced that it would attempt another satellite launch this month.

In a press briefing Monday, Unification Ministry spokesman Koo Byoung-sam said, "Any illicit weapons trade in violation of UN Security Council resolutions should be halted, and Russia must fulfill its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council."