Choe Son-hui

North Korea said on Tuesday its top diplomat is visiting Russia, in another sign of their deepening relations as rival South Korea and Western nations say the North has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine.

China's vice foreign minister met with North Korea's top diplomats in Pyongyang on Friday, state media said, as the nuclear-armed state has accelerated its weapons testing and threats toward Seoul in recent months.

North Korea launches "two unidentified shells" at sea, South Korean agency Yonhap said at a time when Pyongyang offered to resume talks with Washington, France-based BTA reported.