SEOUL –
A North Korean delegation led by the cabinet’s international trade minister is visiting Iran, North Korea’s official media said on Wednesday in a rare public report on an exchange between the two countries believed to have secret military ties.
Foreign Economic Minister Yun Jong Ho left Pyongyang on Tuesday by plane leading a ministerial delegation to visit Iran, North Korean news agency KCNA said. There were no more details.
North Korea and Iran have long been suspected of cooperating on ballistic missile programs, possibly exchanging technical expertise and components needed to manufacture them.
Iran has provided a large number of ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, Reuters reported in February.
North Korea is also suspected of supplying missiles and artillery to Russia, although both countries have denied the allegation.
Yun previously worked on the country’s ties with Syria, according to the South Korean government database.
Yun has been actively involved in the country’s growing exchanges with Russia, and earlier this month led a delegation to Moscow, according to KCNA.
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates)