Russia, N.Korea to Strengthen Military Ties

Defense minister of Russia Sergei Shoigu will be visiting North Korea from July 25 to 27.

Confirming the information, Russian defense ministry said a delegation led by Shoigu will arrive in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Korean people in the Patriotic Liberation War of 1950-1953.

"The visit will contribute to the strengthening of Russian-North Korean military ties and will become an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries," the ministry added.

Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong will also be visiting Pyongyang, with a delegation from Beijing.

North Korea celebrates Victory Day on July 27. Seventy years ago, Chinese and Soviet-backed North Korea invaded the U.S.-backed South Korea, leaving millions of people killed. The Korean peninsula was divided by the so-called Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea following a ceasefire.