North Korean parliamentary leader meets Russian delegation: KCNA

This photo, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, shows Pak In-chol, third from right, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, meeting with a delegation from Russia's Federation Council at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, May 23. Yonhap

The chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly met with a visiting Russian delegation in Pyongyang earlier this week, North Korea's state media reported Friday, the latest in a series of deepening exchanges between the two countries following a summit of their leaders in September.

The meeting between Pak In-chol and the delegation led by Grigoriy Rapota, a member of the International Affairs Committee of Russia's Federation Council and chairman of the Russia-North Korea friendship parliamentary group, took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on Thursday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Participants also included Alexander Matsegora, the Russian ambassador to North Korea, the KCNA reported.

The delegation arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for a five-day trip.

The Russian Embassy in North Korea earlier shared news, saying the two sides will discuss issues of parliamentary interaction and outline plans for future contacts during the stay.

The delegation's visit came as North Korea and Russia have been expanding cooperation in a range of areas following the rare summit between their leaders in September. (Yonhap)