Kim Jong-un declared unconditional support for "all" Russian actions in Ukraine

Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his "unconditional" support for all Russian actions during the conflict in Ukraine as he welcomed Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to a newly built seaside resort on his country's east coast.
North Korean Chairman of State Kim Jong-un met with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the North Korean city of Wonsan. During the meeting, Kim reaffirmed his government's commitment to "unconditional support and encouragement of all measures" that Russia is taking in Ukraine, the Associated Press reported, citing the official Korean Central News Agency.
Photos released by the Russian Foreign Ministry show Kim Jong-un and Sergei Lavrov smiling and shaking hands as they sit opposite each other at a small round table in the yacht's cabin, CNN reports.
And as RIA Novosti reports, Sergei Lavrov joked at a meeting with Kim Jong-un that they both had not quit smoking: “I’m glad to see you… You still smoke. And I smoke.”
Kim Jong Un and Lavrov met on Saturday in an “atmosphere of warm, friendly trust,” North Korea’s official KCNA news agency reported. Kim Jong Un told Lavrov that North Korea was “ready to unconditionally support and encourage all measures taken by the Russian leadership to eliminate the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis.”
Lavrov's trip comes at a critical time for Russian-North Korean relations - and is attracting particular attention in the West because Ukrainian intelligence agencies say Pyongyang is planning to send an additional 25,000 to 30,000 troops to help Moscow, in addition to the roughly 11,000 North Koreans sent last year, CNN reports.
It also comes as the United States grows increasingly disillusioned with Russia, with US President Donald Trump promising to step up support for Kyiv.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Russian President Putin conveyed “his warm greetings” to Kim Jong-un, “and reaffirms his commitment to all previous agreements.”
Sergey Lavrov, who arrived in the DPRK on Friday for a three-day visit, also met with his North Korean counterpart Choi Son Hui in Wonsan on Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Telegram.
"We exchanged views on the situation around the Ukrainian crisis," the TASS news agency quoted Lavrov as saying at a press conference following the meeting. "Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the goals of the special military operation, as well as the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces."
At the time, Lavrov praised what he called “very close contacts” with North Korean military and intelligence services.
The Russian foreign minister also warned the United States, South Korea and Japan against creating a security partnership aimed at North Korea, accusing them of what he called a military buildup around North Korea. “We warn against using these ties to create alliances aimed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia,” he said.
The deepening relations between Moscow and Pyongyang, The Guardian notes, have raised concerns in South Korea and the US that Russia could also transfer sensitive technologies to North Korea that could increase the dangers of its nuclear and missile programmes. Lavrov said Russia understood North Korea’s decision to build nuclear weapons: “The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Korea’s aspirations and understand the reasons for its nuclear development.”
At the start of his meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Lavrov expressed hope that Russian tourists would soon be able to visit the resort of Wonsan, which opened last month and has been hailed by North Korean state media as a “national treasure-level tourist city.”
"I am confident that Russian tourists will increasingly want to come here. We will do everything possible to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel," Lavrov said, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Kim Jong-un personally cut the ribbon on the sprawling Kalma beach resort, which features water parks, high-rise hotels and accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests, according to KCNA. The nearby international airport is another indication that the project is aimed at attracting foreign currency, CNN reports.
Sergey Lavrov praised Wonsan as a “good tourist attraction,” adding: “We hope that it will be popular not only with locals but also with Russians.”
Last year, small groups of Russian tourists visited North Korea for a three-day ski holiday at the Maskireng resort, which has long been a popular tourist destination since it opened in December 2013.
mk.ru