SpaceWar.com reports: “Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to North Korea on Friday to meet with his North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and others during a three-day visit.

He said Moscow respects North Korea’s efforts to develop nuclear arms by using its own scientists amid recent military exercises involving the U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces, according to CNN.

The U.S. and its South Korean and Japanese allies conducted a joint aerial training operation on the Korean Peninsula on Friday.

Lavrov warned the United States and its regional allies against targeting North Korea and Russia, Newsweek reported on Saturday.

‘No one is considering using force against North Korea despite the military buildup around the country by the United States, South Korea and Japan,’ Lavrov said of the joint military exercise.

‘We respect North Korea’s aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing a nuclear development,’ Lavrov said…”