Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has proposed to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that their countries hold a naval exercise along with China, South Korean Yonhap news agency reported on Monday (4), citing South Korea’s intelligence agency.
Shoigu visited North Korea for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, celebrated in North Korea as “Victory Day”, in July, when he met with Kim.
They attended a defense exhibition that featured North Korea’s banned ballistic missiles, North Korean state media reported at the time.
Yonhap reported that Shoigu proposed a triple naval exercise to Kim during his visit, but did not provide details.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told the National Assembly that Shoigu appeared to have held a private meeting with Kim to agree on a broad military expansion, Yonhap reported.
Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told the Tass news agency on Saturday that he was not aware of any plans for North Korea to participate in trilateral military exercises with China and Russia, but that , in his opinion, would be “appropriate” in light of the US-led exercises in the region.
Russia and North Korea have recently advocated closer military ties, but North Korea has denied having any “arms talks” with Russia.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby told a news conference last month that Shoigu had tried, on his visit to North Korea, to convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia.
The United States recently imposed sanctions on three entities accused of being linked to arms deals between North Korea and Russia.
North Korea has carried out six nuclear tests since 2006 and has tested several missiles in recent years, but it rarely holds military exercises with its neighbors.
The United States and its ally South Korea hold regular military exercises, which North Korea denounces as preparations for war against it.
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Source: CNN Brasil
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