Kim Jong Un Meets w/Russia's Shoigu

Russian state media has confirmed that Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu has met with North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. A statement from the Security Council said the two held a 'substantive exchange of views...on a wide range of issues on the bilateral and international agenda.' Russian state media said the meeting 'took place in an exceptionally trusting, friendly atmosphere in line with the agreements between the leaders of the two countries,'

• Relations between Pyongyang and Moscow have become significantly closer in recent months amid a major uptick in military trade between the two nations. North Korea's supply of advanced short-range ballistic missiles such as the Hwasong-11 has bolstered Russia's ability to increase attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukrainian cities, while its supply of ammo keeps the main assault in the Donbas moving.
• Meanwhile, Russia's supply of refined petroleum products, food, and raw materials to North Korea has alleviated domestic shortages.
• The United States, Japan, and South Korea have become increasingly agitated at the increasingly close relations between Russia and North Korea, both in terms of boosting Russia's assault on Ukraine and bolstering the Kim regime's ability to sustain its programme of missile and nuclear weapons development.