Russia warns against targeting North Korea
July 12 (UPI) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to North Korea on Friday to meet with his North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and others during a three-day visit.
He said Moscow respects North Korea's efforts to develop nuclear arms by using its own scientists amid recent military exercises involving the U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces, according to CNN.
The U.S. and its South Korean and Japanese allies conducted a joint aerial training operation on the Korean Peninsula on Friday.
Lavrov warned the United States and its regional allies against targeting North Korea and Russia, Newsweek reported on Saturday.
"No one is considering using force against North Korea despite the military buildup around the country by the United States, South Korea and Japan," Lavrov said of the joint military exercise.
"We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing a nuclear development," Lavrov said.
He said Moscow is aware that President Donald Trump recently expressed support for resuming talks with North Korea at the highest level.
"We exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis," Lavrov told Russian state media outlet TASS.
"Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support of all the objectives of the special military operation," he said of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry earlier this week invitedLavrov to visit Pyongyang, which is preparing to deploy between 25,000 and 30,000 soldiers for Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine.
North Korea last year deployed 11,000 soldiers to Russia to help repel a Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region of Russia.
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Los Angeles Times
13 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Trump to meet NATO secretary general as plan takes shape for Ukraine weapons sales
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Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed reporting.
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
President Donald Trump to meet NATO secretary general as plan takes shape for Ukraine weapons sales
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That revenue is critical in helping keep the Russian war machine humming as the U.S. and Europe have imposed significant import and export bans on a wide range of goods to and from Russia, affecting sectors like finance, energy, transport, technology, and defense. Trump for months had threatened, but held off on, imposing new sanctions against Russia's oil industry. But the Republican leader has become increasingly exasperated with Putin in recent days and has laid into the Russian leader for prolonging the war. 'We get a lot of bull—- thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,' Trump said last week in an exchange with reporters. 'He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.' Congress has been prepared to act on the legislation, sponsored by Graham and Blumenthal, for some time. The bill has overwhelming support in the Senate, but Republican leadership has been waiting for Trump to give the green light before moving ahead with it. 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Newsweek
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