Pyongyang: A Russian military delegation has arrived in North Korea, the North's state media reported, as Pyongyang and Moscow have been deepening military cooperation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the delegation, led by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin, arrived in Pyongyang the previous day. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday that while details such as the itinerary and the purpose of the visit were not disclosed, Goremykin was welcomed by Pak Yong-il, vice director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, along with other military officials.

Goremykin, who oversees the Main Military-Political Directorate of Russia's armed forces, is the first Russian military official with his title to visit North Korea. South Korea's unification ministry noted that his trip seems to be a reciprocal visit following Pak's visit to Russia in April, where he attended an "anti-fascist" forum amid expanding military ties between the two countries.

Since the signing of a mutual defense treaty in June last year, North Korea has supported Russia by sending approximately 15,000 troops and conventional weapons to aid Moscow in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Additionally, South Korea's spy agency reported on Tuesday that around 5,000 North Korean construction troops have been moving to Russia since September, potentially to be used in infrastructure reconstruction projects.