MOSCOW

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the ministry announced Saturday.

The ministry released photos and video footage showing Lavrov and Kim greeting each other in the North Korean resort city of Wonsan.

"Thank you for giving me the chance to talk with you. It always gives us additional impetus to develop relations, following up on agreements reached between you and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. First and foremost, I'm referring to the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Lavrov said.

The minister thanked Kim for his visit to the Russian Embassy on May 9, and his heartfelt speech marking Victory Day made there.

"President Vladimir Putin sends his warmest greetings to you, reaffirms commitment to all agreements reached, and looks forward to continuing direct contacts with you soon," Lavrov said.

The top Russian diplomat informed Kim that his talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui lasted more than three hours, "were substantive, concrete, and beneficial."

"We discussed the entire range of bilateral issues, including preparations for another session before the end of this year of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, as well as a wide circle of humanitarian topics," he remarked.

For his part, Kim said he chose the resort city of Wonsan as a venue for the meeting because Lavrov was recently "actively engaged in foreign policy activities," and he wanted the minister to have some rest.

"I thought it would be best to meet not in Pyongyang but here in Wonsan, because you could rest a little here," he said.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Lavrov would deliver a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim.

Lavrov arrived at Wonsan Airport on Friday, where a new coastal tourist zone officially opened on July 1.

During his visit, Lavrov also held talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui as part of the second round of strategic dialogue between the two countries.

The Russian minister is scheduled to remain in North Korea until July 13 before traveling to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization foreign ministers’ meeting.