Russia’s parliamentary speaker visits North Korea

Russia’s State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin arrived in Pyongyang on Saturday to attend the opening ceremony of a newly built memorial for North Korean troops who died fighting in the Ukrainewar, North Korean state media KCNA reported on Sunday. Jo Yong Won, chairman of the Standing Committee of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, said Moscow’s sending a high-level delegation to the memorial’s opening ceremony reflected an expression of sincere appreciation and support by the Russian people, according to KCNA. Speaking at the meeting with the Russian official, Jo said Volodin had expressed “sincere gratitude” to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his people for sending the soldiers to Kursk region to fight alongside Russian forces, according to KCNA. The two leaders shared mutual interests and reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the agreements in the Russia-North Korea treaty, KCNA said, which were established during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to