North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday to discuss military issues and the regional security environment, according to state media.

The meeting took place as North Korea celebrated the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War. Kim and Shoigu reached a consensus on matters of mutual concern regarding national defense and security.

Additionally, Kim showcased North Korea's newest weapons at an arms exhibition, including possibly intercontinental ballistic missiles and surveillance and attack drones.

The meeting between Kim and Shoigu highlights North Korea's support for Russia's war in Ukraine, as the isolated country aligns itself with Russia in the face of perceived threats from the U.S.-led West. It is also seen as an opportunity for North Korea to break out of diplomatic isolation and establish closer ties with Russia and China, who have both blocked U.N. Security Council sanctions on North Korea.

In a rare diplomatic gesture, North Korea invited delegations from Russia and China to attend events commemorating the armistice. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter to Kim, expressing readiness to promote sound and stable relations with North Korea.

The presence of Russian and Chinese officials at a military parade would serve as a statement of defiance towards the United States and a domestic accomplishment for Kim. The Korean War, which began with a surprise North Korean attack on the South in 1950, involved the intervention of Chinese and Soviet forces on the North's side against South Korea, the United States, and other United Nations troops.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol marked the armistice anniversary by visiting a cemetery in Busan that honors the U.N. troops who died during the war. Yoon is pushing for stronger military exercises with the United States and reassurances of U.S. nuclear capabilities to defend the South against any potential nuclear attack.

The North Korean festivities included a military parade in Pyongyang, where Kim possibly showcased nuclear-capable missiles designed to threaten neighboring countries and the United States. North Korea's state media had not confirmed the plans for the parade, but South Korean government officials indicated that it likely took place.

The details of the parade and the weapons displayed were still being analyzed by South Korean military experts. Overall, the meeting between Kim and Shoigu, as well as the participation of Russian and Chinese delegations in the anniversary events, demonstrate North Korea's efforts to strengthen its alliances and assert its presence on the global stage.