In response to the breakdown in North Korea-U.S. dialogue, which DPRK vice foreign minister Ri Thae Song has blamed on Washington's unwillingness to grant concessions due in part to the American election cycle of DPRK-U.S. dialogue, the Russian government has been scrambling to leverage its diplomatic clout to push for a revival in Pyongyang-Washington dialogue. 

On December 10, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov traveled to Washington for talks with his American counterpart, Mike Pompeo. During Lavrov's visit to Washington, Donald Trump reportedly asked for Moscow's assistance in dealing with nuclear issues in both Iran and North Korea.