According to a statement published on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on December 21, local time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Zakharova said that Russia “has never discussed any issues affecting inter-Korean relations with South Korea, let alone the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.” Yonhap News Agency and other South Korean media reported on the same day using South Korean diplomats as sources that senior officials from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently “secretly visited Moscow to conduct closed-door discussions with officials from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue and exchange views on North Korea-related matters such as the North Korean nuclear issue.” Zakharova pointed out that the South Korean Foreign Ministry delegation “paid a working visit to Moscow at the invitation of Russian academia,” yet some media “crudely packaged it as a formal meeting between the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the intention of undermining the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea.” Zakharova stressed that with regard to cooperation between Russia and North Korea, Russia's position is consistent and firm in principle, unaffected by political factors, and based on the long-term strategic interests of the two countries. Russia will continue to work to promote the development of relations with North Korea in accordance with the Russian-North Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed in June 2024. Any attempt to disrupt Russian-North Korean relations is futile.

According to a statement published on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on December 21, local time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Zakharova said that Russia “has never discussed any issues affecting inter-Korean relations with South Korea, let alone the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.” Yonhap News Agency and other South Korean media reported on the same day using South Korean diplomats as sources that senior officials from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently “secretly visited Moscow to conduct closed-door discussions with officials from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue and exchange views on North Korea-related matters such as the North Korean nuclear issue.” Zakharova pointed out that the South Korean Foreign Ministry delegation “paid a working visit to Moscow at the invitation of Russian academia,” yet some media “crudely packaged it as a formal meeting between the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the intention of undermining the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea.” Zakharova stressed that with regard to cooperation between Russia and North Korea, Russia's position is consistent and firm in principle, unaffected by political factors, and based on the long-term strategic interests of the two countries. Russia will continue to work to promote the development of relations with North Korea in accordance with the Russian-North Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed in June 2024. Any attempt to disrupt Russian-North Korean relations is futile.