North Korean elite military training delegation left for a visit to Russia, Reuters informed. This is the first military exchange between the two countries since their leaders signed a military cooperation pact, quoted by News.bg.
Kim Geum Chol, president of Kim Il Sung Military University, led the delegation. The state news agency KCNA did not say what the purpose of the visit was.
Named after the country's founder, the university is a training base for elite military officers. The country's leader, Kim Jong Un, is visiting after studying in Switzerland while being groomed to become the country's third leader.
North Korea has seen a record number of high-ranking officials visit Russia in the past year, including Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June.
At their summit, Putin and Kim signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which includes a mutual defense agreement that Kim says amounts to an alliance.
The highly public development of the two countries' military ties has alarmed officials in Seoul and Washington, who point to evidence of arms shipments from the North to Russia for use against Ukraine and believe Pyongyang may be receiving unknown aid from Moscow. Both sides deny any arms deals.