Russia's Lavrov meets North Korea's Kim in Pyongyang

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korea's Kim Jong Un on Thursday. Lavrov hailed North Korea as a "close neighbour and long-time partner" in a meeting that lasted a little over an hour, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Lavrov’s two-day visit is expected to lay the groundwork for a trip to the country by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was invited by Kim last month at a high-profile summit in Russia's Far East.