Lavrov’s North Korea Trip Designed to ‘Counterbalance’ US Belligerence in Asian Theater

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to North Korea this week for high-level talks. The trip follows last month’s visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Russian defense chief Sergei Shoigu’s trip to Pyongyang in July. Sputnik asked Asia-Pacific affairs expert KJ Noh for his take on what the flurry of diplomacy means.