Lavrov called US statements about military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang rumors

Statements by US representatives on military-technical cooperation between Russia and the DPRK are rumors, reported Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with the “60 Minutes” program.

TV presenter Olga Skabeeva clarified with Lavrov the statement of White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby, who, with reference to satellite images, reported about a thousand containers allegedly being supplied with military assistance from Pyongyang to Moscow over the past two months.

“I don’t comment on rumors. The fact that Americans constantly blame everyone for everything is not news. This is well known to everyone,” Lavrov replied.

The minister also called on the US to use satellite imagery to help normalize the situation. As an example, he cited the attack on a hospital in the Gaza Strip, which killed several hundred Palestinians.

On October 18-19, Lavrov was in Pyongyang on an official visit, during which he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The minister noted that Russia highly appreciates the “principled, unequivocal support” of the DPRK in conducting a special operation in Ukraine and the recognition of the entry of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions into the Russian Federation.

Before this, in September, the leader of the DPRK came to Russia on an official visit. He held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Vostochny on September 13. Following the results of Kim Jong-un’s trip, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that it was “timely, useful and constructive.” The Kremlin emphasized that Russia will continue to develop relations with North Korea.

After the visit of the DPRK leader to Russia, South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol statedthat if Russia helped North Korea expand its weapons programs in exchange for help with a special operation, it would be a “direct provocation.”