North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Saturday discussed strengthening defenses “strategic and tactical coordination” of the armies of the two countriesreported North Korean media.

After Kim inspected the Kinzhal strategic bomber and hypersonic missile and visited the Pacific Fleet barracks near the city of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East, Shoigu hosted a lunch for the North Korean leaderwrote North Korea’s official KCNA news agency.

Shoigu said, at the event, “desire to further deepen friendship and cooperation between the Defense Ministries of the two countries”.

His North Korean counterpart Kang Sun-nam spoke of “further strengthening unity and cooperation with the Russian army and responsibly safeguarding regional and global peace and stability”.

According to the news agency, after the banquet, Shoigu and Kim “Exchange constructive views on practical issues related to strengthening strategic and tactical coordinationregarding cooperation and mutual exchanges between the armed forces of the two countries and in the field of National Defense and Security”.

Kim and Shoigu met in Pyongyang in July, when the Russian minister proposed that North Korea hold joint naval exercises with Russia and China, according to South Korean intelligence.

After lunch, Kim watched the ballet “Sleeping Beauty”added KCNA.

The North Korean leader met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Vostotchny, about eight thousand kilometers east of Moscow.

No agreement was signed between the two countriesRussian presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov said on Friday.

The United States suspects Russia wants to buy weapons from Pyongyang for use in its war against Ukraine, while North Korea wants to acquire technology for its nuclear and missile programs.

Washington has warned Pyongyang that it will face consequences if it contributes to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.