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Lavrov told reporters he had accepted an invitation to visit
Pyongyang, and that he and Ri had discussed the situation around
North Korea's nuclear and missile programme, and tensions
between Pyongyang and Washington.
"We welcome the gradual normalisation of the situation and the
cessation of mutual threats, and the readiness for contacts
between North Korea and the United States," Lavrov said.
Ri did not appear before reporters after the talks, but told
reporters beforehand:
"The current situation on the Korean peninsula and around your
country, and the overall international political situation,
require our two countries to further strengthen friendly
cooperation, to increase our strategic communication and
coordination of action between our countries."
Ri said he hoped the two countries would find ways to create "a
new milestone" in their relations this year.
High-ranking North Korean officials have been engaged in a
flurry of international diplomacy in recent weeks ahead of a
possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim made a surprise visit to China last month for talks with
President Xi Jinping, his first known trip outside the North
since he assumed power in 2011.
Ri arrived in Moscow on Monday and held talks with Russian
Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev about the options
for dialogue between Pyongyang and Seoul, the TASS news agency
reported.
Lavrov said after meeting Ri on Tuesday that no decisions had
been made on talks between Kim and Russian President Vladimir
Putin.
(Reporting by Christian Lowe; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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