Moscow: North Korea and Russia have accused the United States and its allies of being the "root cause" of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, reaffirming their commitment to implementing a new bilateral treaty, the North's state media reported Saturday. According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shared these views during their "strategic dialogue" held in Moscow on Friday, as detailed in a press statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Choe has been in Russia since Monday, at a time when tensions have heightened with North Korea's deployment of thousands of its troops to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. Her visit coincided with North Korea's launch of the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday, its first such test launch coming just days ahead of the U.S. presidential election. "The two sides expressed the common understanding that the root cause of ever-esc alating tensions in the Korean peninsula, Northeast Asia, and other parts of the world lies in the provocations of the U.S. and its vassal countries," the statement read. "The exchange of views on major international issues confirmed that the two sides are unanimous in their assessment of the present international situation." The U.S. has reported that about 10,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia, with 8,000 of them expected to join combat soon near Ukraine. However, there was no mention of the North's troop dispatch in the statement. North Korea has strengthened its ties with Russia, claiming to have elevated their relations with a new treaty that includes a provision for mutual military assistance in the event of an attack on either side. At the dialogue, Lavrov expressed Russia's "full support" for the measures North Korea has taken to deter the "aggressive policy" of the U.S. and its allies, according to the KCNA, which seemingly refers to Russia's support for North Korea's latest ICBM launch. Choe and Lavrov also discussed "practical issues" to further enhance their ties, including implementing agreements from the treaty signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at their June summit. The dialogue marked an "important occasion" in the development of their bilateral relations in line with the new partnership treaty, the report added. Ahead of the talks, Choe attended a ceremony at Yaroslavl Railway Station in northeast Moscow to unveil a plaque honoring the first visit to Russia by North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung, in 1949. In her speech at the ceremony, Choe emphasized the strategic value of her country's relations with Russia amid the grave international political situation. Before arriving in Moscow, Choe visited Vladivostok, a Russian city in the Far East, where South Korea and Western nations believe North Korean soldiers are undergoing adaptation training for possible deployment to the front lines in Ukraine.
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