Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, who is visiting North Korea, observed ballistic missiles in Pyongyang that the Kim regime is developing despite the UN's stance. This was interpreted as Moscow's approval of Pyongyang's nuclear program development.
Shoygu's visit coincided with increased tension on the Korean Peninsula. For the first time since the Cold War, a U.S. submarine equipped with cruise missiles arrived in South Korea. The periodic visits of such submarines are part of a new security agreement signed between the United States and South Korea.
In response to the presence of U.S. vessels in South Korea, North Korea intensified its missile tests. Last week, they conducted three such tests.