Sergey Shoigu has mentioned he’s sure his go to will strengthen navy ties between the 2 international locations
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has held talks together with his North Korean counterpart in Pyongyang on the sidelines of ceremonies marking the top of the Korean War, the Defense Ministry in Moscow mentioned on Wednesday.
The ministry mentioned that Shoigu spoke with North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam whereas hailing historically shut ties between the 2 nations and thanking his hosts for an eventful cultural program and heat welcome.
Shoigu remarked that his journey comes as North Korea celebrates “the 70th anniversary of the victory… in the Great Fatherland Liberation War,” including that the Korean People’s Army prevailed “over a strong and cruel enemy.”
Shoigu was referring to the 1950-1953 battle between North Korea, which was supported by the Soviet Union and China, and South Korea, which was backed by a coalition of Western allies.
The Korean War is taken into account one of many bloodiest conflicts in trendy historical past with an estimated 3 million casualties on each side. While Seoul and Pyongyang by no means signed a peace treaty, an armistice established a demilitarized zone close to the thirty eighth parallel, dividing the Korean peninsula in two.
Shoigu additionally touted the “rich history of cooperation” between North Korea and Russia, noting that in depth navy exchanges, together with visits by senior protection officers and personnel coaching, have helped “maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.”
“I am convinced that today’s talks will help strengthen cooperation between our defense departments,” he added.
Before the talks together with his North Korean counterpart, Shoigu laid a wreath on the Liberation Monument commemorating Red Army troopers who died whereas liberating Korea from Japanese occupation in 1945. The Russian delegation additionally laid flowers on the monuments honoring late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Russia and North Korea have historically loved shut ties relationship again to the Soviet period, with Pyongyang’s international ministry saying final 12 months that relations between the 2 “are now reaching new strategic heights” within the face of what it known as “hegemonic actions of the United States and its satellites.”
Meanwhile, commenting on the go to of each Russian and Chinese delegations to North Korea, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel expressed hope that they’d use their affect on Pyongyang “to encourage them to refrain from threatening unlawful behavior” and play an element in defusing regional tensions.