North Korea rolls out red carpet for Putin’s right-hand man

Kang Sun Nam greeting Sergei Shoigu upon his arrival at Pyongyang International Airport (Picture: AFP)

Russia’s defence minister has arrived in North Korea to ‘strengthen’ military ties with Kim Jong-Un’s ‘friendly’ government.

Led by Sergei Shoigu, the delegation landed in Pyongyang on Tuesday evening, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Pictures released by state media show Shoigu being greeted by his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam at the airport.

During a meeting with ministers, he said: ‘I am convinced that today’s talks will help strengthen cooperation between our defense departments.’

Shoigu visiting the statues of the late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at Mansu Hill(Picture: AFP)

Meeting between the two parties in he capital (Picture: AFP)

Announcing the visit yesterday morning, the Kremlin said it will help strengthen relations and mark ‘an important stage’ in the development of their bilateral co-operation.

‘This visit will help strengthen Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries,’ the Russian ministry said on Telegram.

Chinese Communist Party politburo member Li Hongzhong led a group from his country.

The two delegations will take part in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of ‘Victory Day’ on Thursday in Pyongyang, an event that state media said will be marked in a ‘grand manner that will go down in history’.

North Korea has been preparing huge celebrations for the anniversary that are likely to be capped off by a military parade in the capital.

According to some analysts, it might ramp up its weapons tests around the event.

North Korea closed its border in early 2020 to all trade and diplomatic exchanges, even with its main economic and political partners China and Russia.

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Russia’s defence minister described the North Korean government as ‘friendly’.