Will Russian FM Lavrov Visit North Korea This Week?

Seoul, July 9 (NationPress) Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, is set to embark on a visit to North Korea later this week, as reported by the North's state media on Wednesday.

His trip is scheduled from Friday to Sunday, following an invitation from the North Korean foreign ministry, according to the Korean Central News Agency, which did not disclose additional details.

During his time in North Korea, Lavrov is anticipated to engage with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and possibly meet with leader Kim Jong-un.

The core focus of their discussions is expected to revolve around Kim's prospective visit to Russia, following an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Pyongyang in June of the previous year.

This will mark Lavrov's second visit to North Korea, having last traveled there in June of the prior year alongside Putin, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

This upcoming visit comes as Russia and North Korea have significantly strengthened their bilateral relations over the past year, particularly after they signed a mutual defense treaty in June in Pyongyang.

On June 17, Kim Jong-un had discussions with Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Security Council Secretary, in Pyongyang as both nations prepare to commemorate the first anniversary of their mutual defense treaty.

Kim and Shoigu's discussions commenced shortly after Shoigu's arrival in the North Korean capital, according to the press service of the Russian Security Council.

Shoigu's visit to North Korea was part of a special mission from President Putin and marked his second visit to the country this month, having previously met with Kim earlier in June to discuss security matters concerning the Korean Peninsula.

According to the Tass Russian news agency, the meeting between Shoigu and Kim is a continuation of agreements reached during Shoigu's earlier visit on June 4, reinforcing the mutual defense agreement signed last year between North Korea and Russia.

Shoigu's consecutive visits to North Korea coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty signed by Kim and Putin in June, which resulted in the deployment of North Korean troops on the Russian front in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The impending June 19 anniversary has sparked speculation regarding Kim's potential trip to Russia for a summit with Putin, although no immediate signs of such a visit have emerged.

There is ongoing speculation that Russia's annual Eastern Economic Forum, set to take place in September in Vladivostok near the North Korean border, could serve as a venue for Kim's visit and a possible summit with Putin.