ISTANBUL

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in the country’s capital, Moscow, as ties between the two neighboring states continue to deepen.

Putin received Choe, who embarked on a three-day visit to Russia on Sunday, in the Kremlin, where he conveyed his best wishes to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“We discussed our relations and development prospects in detail in Beijing. Everything is going according to plan. Please convey my best wishes to him (Kim Jong Un),” Putin told the North Korean foreign minister in a video of their initial remarks published by the Kremlin.

No further details were given about what Putin and Choe discussed at the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov presented Choe with a bouquet ahead of the two top diplomats' meeting in Moscow.

During their meeting, Lavrov highlighted their plans to take part in the 3rd International Conference on Eurasian Security, scheduled to take place in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Oct. 28-29.

“Our participation in this important conference will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of the common goal of building a just world order, including in Eurasia,” he said, expressing that he looked forward to continuing their discussion on key components of the bilateral agenda between Moscow and Pyongyang.

The visit comes as North Korea and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership deal last year, pledging mutual military support if either came under attack by a third party.

During a meeting with Kim in the Chinese capital of Beijing last month, Putin acknowledged for the first time that North Korean soldiers took part in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war at the North Korean leader’s initiative.