ISTANBUL

Russia's intelligence chief discussed deepening bilateral cooperation between his country and North Korea amid a visit to the capital Pyongyang earlier this week, Moscow said on Thursday.

A statement by the press bureau of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said Sergey Naryshkin held “detailed negotiations” with North Korean State Security Minister Ri Chang-dae during his visit on March 25-27.

“Topical issues of the development of the international situation, ensuring regional security, and deepening Russian-North Korean interaction in the face of attempts to increase pressure from external forces were discussed,” the intelligence service noted.

Separately, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the two sides reached a “complete consensus of views” on the issues discussed during the talks that were held in a “comradely and amicable atmosphere.”

Moscow-Pyongyang relations have grown since an official visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Russia last September when he met President Vladimir Putin.​​​​​​​