A high-ranking delegation from North Korea's Workers' Party has arrived in Moscow for a visit at the invitation of Russia's ruling party, state media reported Tuesday.
The delegation, led by Ri Hi-yong, a member of the party's Central Committee Politburo, landed in Moscow the previous day at the invitation of Russia's United Russia Party, the Korean Central News Agency said.
Andrey Klimov, a member of the presidium of the Russian party's Supreme Committee and deputy head of the party's foreign activities committee, along with other members of the party's leadership, greeted the delegation upon their arrival at an airport, the KCNA said without further information.
Photos of the visit, published by the KCNA, show Kim Song-nam, party director for international affairs, was among the delegation members. Kim, known for his expertise on China, previously served as an interpreter during China visits by North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung, and late former leader, Kim Jong-il.
The visit came as the United States has begun negotiations to end Russia's war against Ukraine, for which North Korea dispatched thousands of troops to the Russian side.
Since forging a mutual defense treaty last year, Pyongyang and Moscow have strengthened bilateral cooperation in defense, economy, sports and various other fields.
An official at South Korea's unification ministry said the latest visit follows an agreement for exchanges between the North Korean and Russian parties in October 2018, when a North Korean delegation led by a party vice director-level official visited Russia.
North Korea appears to have upgraded the level of its delegation to Russia this time, the official said on condition of anonymity. (Yonhap)
