North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held talks with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Pyongyang on Friday, expressing hopes for strengthening the allies’ “strategic partnership” as they cooperate over the war in Ukraine.

The meeting with Medvedev, the leader of the ruling United Russia party, took place on the sidelines of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), with both attending a large-scale military parade at Kim Il Sung Square later in the evening.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim “warmly welcomed” Medvedev and said his delegation’s visit demonstrated “the firm