North Korea’s ambassador to Moscow held several meetings with Russian officials in recent weeks, as well as with leaders of Ukraine’s breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk, in what one expert said amounted to a revival of DPRK-Russia ties.

DPRK Ambassador Sin Hong Chol met with the governor of the Penza region in central-west Russia during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in mid-June, according to local media. The ambassador reportedly agreed to support joint projects with Penza.