Russian and Chinese delegations arrive in North Korea for Victory Day

Pyongyang will mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice on July 27, 1953, and is calling it Victory Day of Korea. North Korean state media said the event would be grand and "will go down in history".

Russia and China must go to North Korea to commemorate the victory day, picture 1 — Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. Photo: TASS

"A military delegation of the Russian Federation headed by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will pay a congratulatory visit to the DPRK," KCNA said, a day after confirming a Chinese delegation would also attend Thursday's event (July 27).

This is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that North Korea has invited foreign delegations to attend a major national event. North Korea has been under a strict COVID lockdown since early 2020.

Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang late on Tuesday and was greeted at the airport by his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam, the Russian Defense Ministry said in Moscow.

“This visit will contribute to strengthening Russian-DPRK military relations and will be an important step in the development of cooperation between the two countries,” the ministry said in a statement.

China also confirmed on Tuesday that it would send a delegation led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong. Chinese media said the delegation would arrive in Pyongyang on Wednesday.

North Korea resumed some trade with China last year after easing COVID quarantine measures and welcomed Beijing's new special envoy to the job this year.

Huy Hoang (according to TASS, KCNA, AFP)

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