Russia-Ukraine war live: Russian defence minister says ties with North Korea ‘expanding in all areas’ during visit
Russian defence minister, Andrei Belousov, arrived in North Korea on Friday for talks with North Korean military and political leaders as the countries deepen their alignment over Russia’s war on Ukraine.
According to the Associated Press, the defence ministry in announcing the visit did not specify who Belousov would be meeting or the purpose of the talks. North Korean state media did not immediately confirm the visit either.
Photos released by Russia’s defence ministry showed Belousov walking alongside North Korean defense minister, No Kwang Chol, on a red carpet laid out at a Pyongyang airport. According to the AP, North Korean military officials were seen clapping under a banner that read:
Complete support and solidarity with the fighting Russian army and people.”
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that Belousov on Friday hailed “expanding” ties with North Korea. “Friendly ties between Russia and North Korea are actively expanding in all areas, including military cooperation,” he was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying during a visit to the country.
The visit came days after South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, met with a Ukrainian delegation led by defense minister, Rustem Umerov, in the South Korean capital of Seoul and called for the two countries to formulate countermeasures in response to North Korea’s dispatch of troops to Russia in support of its fight against Ukraine.
North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, in recent months has prioritised relations with Russia as he tries to break out of isolation and strengthen his international footing, embracing the idea of a “new cold war”, reports the AP.
The US and its allies have said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in recent weeks and that some of those troops were engaging in combat.
On Thursday, Joe Biden said Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine shows the “urgency” of backing Kyiv, touting strong support ahead of Donald Trump taking office in January.
“This attack is outrageous and serves as yet another reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defence against Russian aggression,” Biden said in a statement.
Earlier on Thursday, Russia pummelled Ukraine’s energy grid with almost 200 missiles and drones, leaving a million people without power.
“On this day, my message to the Ukrainian people is clear: the United States stands with you,” added Biden.
In other developments:
Vladimir Putin has threatened to strike Kyiv with Oreshnik missiles, an intermediate-range weapon that Moscow used against the city of Dnipro last week and that Putin has claimed cannot be shot down by any air defence system.
It came after Moscow pummelled Ukraine’s energy grid in an attack that left a million people without power. Russia fired more than 90 missiles and about 100 drones during the barrage, according to Kyiv, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging his allies to respond firmly to what he dubbed Russian “blackmail”. Putin said the fresh bombardment was a “response” to Ukrainian strikes on his territory with western missiles.
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine injured at least eight people and damaged residential buildings in the capital Kyiv and in the southern Odesa region overnight, officials said on Friday. Ukraine’s air force said in a statement that, of 132 drones launched against the country overnight, it had downed 88 drones, while 41 were “lost”, likely due to electronic warfare, and one returned to the Russian territory.
Georgian riot police deployed teargas and water cannon against demonstrators protesting a government decision to delay asking for EU accession, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporters witnessed. Thousands rallied in the capital Tbilisi and cities across Georgia after prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced the decision amid a post-election crisis that saw the country’s president challenge the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament and government.
Donald Trump’s plan to tap the retired US Lt Gen Keith Kellogg as US envoy to Ukraine and Russia has triggered renewed interest in a policy document he co-authored. It proposes ending the war by withdrawing weapons from Ukraine if it does not enter peace talks – and giving even more weapons to Ukraine if Russia does not do the same.