According to state media reports on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss military matters and the regional security situation.

The meeting showcases Pyongyang’s support for Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

This development coincided with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the armistice that marked the end of fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War, the Associated Press reported.

As part of the North Korean festivities, a military parade was expected to take place in the capital, Pyongyang, with Kim potentially showcasing the country’s most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles, intended to pose a threat to neighboring nations and the United States.

Although North Korea’s state media had not yet confirmed the plans for the military parade, two South Korean government officials, who provided background information on condition of anonymity, stated that the parade likely commenced around 8 p.m. with preliminary events and was ongoing nearly two hours later.

The official Korean Central News Agency of North Korea reported that Kim and Shoigu had a discussion on Wednesday in Pyongyang, where they reached an agreement on matters of mutual concern in the fields of national defense and security, as well as the regional and international security environment.

Written by staff