DPRK FM Visits Russia: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov accepts invitation to visit DPRK

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DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho has met with his Russian counterpart in Moscow. They discussed the thaw in tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Russia says it welcomes the contact between the DPRK and South Korea. The meeting came ahead of a planned summit between Pyongyang and Seoul later this month. CGTN's Julia Lyubova reports from Moscow.

Ri Yong Ho held talks with Russia's Sergey Lavrov so they could strengthen ties. The state of the Korean Peninsula is high on the agenda for the DPRK's Foreign Minister's visit to Moscow.

RI YONG HO DPRK FOREIGN MINISTER "We believe that the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, the situation around Russia and general international political situation demands the strengthening of friendly relations between our countries, to build up strategic communication and coordinate actions between the two countries."

Lavrov and Ri Yong Ho discussed the situation around Pyongyang's nuclear and missile program as well as its tension with Seoul and Washington.

SERGEY LAVROV RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER "From the Russian side, we have confirmed that we welcome the gradual normalization of the situation, an end to reciprocal threats, the readiness for contact between the DPRK and South Korea and between Pyongyang and Washington."

Lavrov said no decision has been made on a meeting between the DPRK's leader and Russia's Vladimir Putin and that this will be discussed at another time.

JULIA LYUBOVA MOSCOW "The DPRK's Foreign Minister's visit to Moscow comes ahead of a planned summit between the leaders of the DPRK and South Korea. This is due on 27th April. Following that a possible meeting between Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump may take place."

At the end of last month the DPRK's leader Kim Jong-un visited Beijing at the invitation of the Chinese President. It was Kim's first known trip outside the DPRK since taking power in late 2011. Analysts say that Pyongyang is gathering political support from its allies, Russia and China in the the run-up to the Korea's summit.

They need a pack of guarantees both from Russia and China that if they will make some moves towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, they will be protected enough politically and militarily.

China and Russia have a joint initiative for solving the Korean issue, calling for a 'double freeze' that would involve the DPRK halting its nuclear and missile tests and South Korea and the United States ceasing their military drills. JL, CGTN, Moscow.