North Korea said Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a "just war." Meanwhile Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel said Ukraine could consider "diplomatic solutions" to the war. DW has the latest.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday for talks with North Korean military and political leaders as the countries deepen their cooperation over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to the latest statement by Russian ruler Vladimir Putin regarding possible strikes by new Oreshnik ballistic missiles against "decision-making centres" in Kyiv.

North Korea is expanding a weapons plant that manufactures missiles used by Russia against Ukraine, according to new research from a US-based think tank.

Relations between Russia and North Korea have reached new heights ever since South Korea revealed that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to Russia to fight the war, a fact that has been confirmed

South Korea has confirmed intelligence suggesting casualties among North Korean troops deployed to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. Ukrainian media, citing Global Defense Corp. reported that about 500 North Korean soldiers were killed in a Storm Shadow missile strike targeting Russian positions in the Kursk region.

South Korea’s president met a Ukraine delegation and called for a joint response to North Korea's sending soldiers to support Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The U.S., South Korea and others say North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov arrived in Pyongyang for talks with North Korean officials, stoking concerns over a further deepening of military cooperation between the two countries.