Russian Defense Minister Shoigu visited North Korea, Chinese delegation also arrived

(Patria) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War, which took place from 1950 to 1953, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced.

"A Russian military delegation led by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu, has arrived in the DPRK (North Korea)," it stated.

"This visit will contribute to strengthening Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries," the statement said.

The Russian Defense Minister was welcomed at the airport by his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam, it was added.

This is a rare visit by Shoigu to any country since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year. The United States has previously accused North Korea of providing military assistance to Russia for the war in Ukraine, which Pyongyang and Moscow deny.

Li Hongzhong, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, will also attend events in the North Korean capital, with a delegation from Beijing, according to a report by the North Korean state news agency KCNA.

A military parade will be held on Victory Day, which North Korea celebrates on July 27.