Russia sends military delegation to North Korea

A delegation of Russian military officials arrived in the North Korean capital Pyongyang today, but the reason for the visit was not announced.

Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Illustration photo: NK News.

The North Korean Embassy in Russia said today that a delegation from the Russian Defense Ministry led by Victor Kalganov, deputy director of the Russian National Defense Command Center, had arrived in the capital Pyongyang, Reuters reported.

Moscow and Pyongyang did not disclose the purpose of the visit, but it comes as the US has said it is ready to talk to North Korea without preconditions. However, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said a "quiet period" is needed for preliminary discussions to take place.

"It would be difficult if you decided to test another device in the middle. We need a period of quiet," Mr. Tillerson said. US and North Korean security officials are likely to meet when attending a meeting of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP) in Thailand this week, according to Yonhap.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un today announced the goal of turning North Korea into "the world's strongest nuclear and military power." Mr. Kim also praised Pyongyang's successful development of strategic weapons such as nuclear bombs, thermonuclear bombs and Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missiles, considering this a historic victory for the country./.

According to VNE