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Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting in the Kremlin with visiting North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, during which he expressed gratitude for North Korea's support in Russia's military operation in Ukraine. The meeting was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential aide Yury Ushakov, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, Russia's state news agency, reported on the meeting in multiple dispatches, all citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The agency's coverage focused on Putin's high assessment of bilateral relations and his expression of gratitude to North Korea's leadership and people for their assistance in the special military operation.

The South China Morning Post, an English-language newspaper based in Hong Kong, covered the meeting with a more analytical angle. It noted that talks likely focused on fresh ammunition and missile shipments to support Russia's war in Ukraine, and laid the groundwork for a possible visit by Kim Jong Un to Moscow. The report referenced the state-run TASS news agency for Putin's quoted remarks about North Korean soldiers participating in the liberation of the Kursk region.

Key Claims

  • Putin met with Choe Son Hui in the Kremlin, with Lavrov and Ushakov also in attendance, as confirmed by Peskov and reported by TASS.
  • Putin gave a high assessment to Russia-North Korea relations at the start of the meeting, according to Peskov, as quoted by TASS.
  • Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea's leadership and people for their assistance in the special military operation, per Peskov's statement to TASS.
  • Putin remarked that the exploits of North Korean military who helped Russian soldiers would never be forgotten and that they had been awarded state decorations, as relayed by TASS.
  • Choe Son Hui, on behalf of Kim Jong Un, reiterated the North Korean leader's commitment to the comprehensive development of relations with Russia, as reported by TASS.
  • The South China Morning Post reported that talks likely focused on ammunition and missile shipments to Russia and a possible visit by Kim Jong Un to Moscow.
  • TASS also reported that 140 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down overnight over Russian regions, the Sea of Azov, and the Black Sea, though this was not directly linked to the meeting.