Kremlin-Russia To Develop DPRK Ties; Putin To Host Erdogan 4 Sep

Comments from Kremlin spox Dmitri Peskov hitting wires. Regarding the speculation on potential arms trade between Russia and North Korea, says that 'Russia intends to develop ties with North Korea', but does not confirm that President Putin exchanged letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. On 30 August, US NSC spox John Kirby stated that the White House is concerned about any high-level conversations between Russia and the DPRK, saying that a deal could see North Korea supply raw materials and arms for Russia to use in its invasion of Ukraine.

• On grain supplies, Peskov states that 'Food shortages in Africa have nothing to do with Russia', and that 'Russia remains [a] responsible grain supplier despite obstacles posed by EU and US'.
• Says that there are 'no specific results yet on proposed grain shipment involving Turkey and Qatar.'

• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is currently in Moscow for meetings with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in what is seen as an effort to prepare the ground for Erdogan to try and push Putin towards resuming the grain deal that Russia left in July.