Key N. Korean officials pay condolence visit to Russian Embassy in Pyongyang over Moscow attack

SEOUL, March 26 (Yonhap) -- Senior North Korean officials visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on Tuesday to express their deep condolences to the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Moscow and their bereaved families, state media reported.

Five leading officials from the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the defense and foreign ministries paid a condolence visit to the embassy at dawn Tuesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The officials are Jo Yong-won, secretary for organizational affairs at the WPK; Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the WPK's central military commission; Ri Il-hwan, a WPK secretary; Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam; and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.

They "expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and victims, saying that the Korean people share sorrow with the Russian people at this moment," the KCNA said, adding that they also voiced North Korea's "consistent stand against all sorts of terrorism."

Gunmen opened fire at the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow on Friday, leaving at least 139 dead, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a message of condolence to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday over the deadly shooting, expressing his "deep condolences and sympathy" to the victims and their bereaved families, according to state media.

Since the summit between Kim and Putin in September last year, North Korea and Russia have been deepening their bilateral ties amid suspicions that Pyongyang has provided weapons to Moscow for its use in Russia's war with Ukraine.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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