Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said relations between Russia and North Korea have reached a ‘qualitatively new, strategic’ level

According to Moscow state media, the envoy said this on Thursday in Pyongyang

Mr Lavrov arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday night, on a two-day visit after accompanying President Vladimir Putin to Beijing.

His visit is expected to lay the groundwork for a future visit by Mr Putin as the relationship between the two countries continues to strengthen.

Mr Lavrov also praised North Korea’s support for Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

“We highly value your principled, unambiguous support for Russia’s actions in connection with the special military operation in Ukraine,” Mr Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russia’s RIA news agency.

President Kim last month travelled to Russia aboard a special bulletproof train for a face-to-face meeting with Mr Putin. He also declared bilateral relations with Russia as his country’s number one priority.

Their talks were held at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome, roughly 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) from Moscow, a location seen as symbolic given North Korea’s space aspirations.

The United States has continued to raise fears that North Korea is planning to support Russia with military equipment.

On Friday, the United States said shipment of arms by North Korea was already underway with North Korea delivering more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks.

Russia has denied the allegations saying Washington has no proof that ammunition has been shipped.

The strengthening of the alliance between Russia and North Korea comes at a time when the relationship between North Korea and South Korea is at an all-time low.

North Korea has carried out sets of weapon testing this year while enshrining its status as a Nuclear weapons state in its constitution.

South Korea on the other hand has continued to strengthen its security arrangement with its traditional ally the United States while entering a new trilateral defence arrangement that also includes Japan.

During his two-day visit, Mr Lavrov is expected to meet with the Foreign minister of North Korea Choe Son Hui.

Mr Putin has also accepted an invitation from Mr Kim to visit North Korea, but the timing has not been announced.