SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥 A high-level North Korean economic delegation was on its way to Iran, the North's state media said Wednesday, for what would be the two countries鈥 first known talks since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is pushing to build up cooperation with countries confronting the United States, as his intensified weapons tests prompted the U.S. and South Korea to expand their military drills.
Pyongyang's delegation led by Yun Jung Ho, North Korea鈥檚 minster of external economic relations, flew out Tuesday for the trip to Iran, official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. State media did not immediately provide further details.
Pyongyang and Tehran are among the few governments in the world that support Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, and both have been .
The last known time North Korea sent senior officials to Iran was in August 2019, when a group led by Pak Chol Min, vice chair of Pyongyang鈥檚 rubber-stamp parliament, made a weeklong visit. The two countries had active diplomatic exchanges until North Korea sealed its borders in an effort to stave off the pandemic, before a cautious reopening in 2023.
South Korea鈥檚 Unification Ministry, which handles affairs with the North, did not immediately comment Yun鈥檚 visit to Iran.
North Korea has made efforts for months to boost the visibility of its ties with Russia and China as Kim attempts to break out of diplomatic isolation and join a united front against the U.S.
In 2023, Kim visited Russia鈥檚 Far East for a , which highlighted the countries鈥 expanding military cooperation, including the North鈥檚 alleged transfers of artillery shells, missiles, and other munitions to Russia.
Earlier this month, , who heads the ceremonial parliament and ranks third in the ruling Communist Party hierarchy. It was the highest-level meeting between the countries in years.
On Wednesday, , the North Korean leader鈥檚 powerful sister, slammed the latest rounds of U.S.-South Korean joint military drills and insisted that the allies will never break the North鈥檚 determination to build up 鈥渙ur overwhelming and most powerful military muscle.鈥
The statement comes a week after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield called for the international community to be between North Korea, Iran and Russia. Iran has been accused of providing drones to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.
鈥淲e are concerned about 鈥 the Iranians providing weapons to the Russians and the Russians also supporting efforts to help (North Korea) expand their own research into developing weapons. And certainly, that would be the case with Iran as well,鈥 she said.
