North Korea's Defense Minister No Kwang-chol has expressed "full support" for Russia in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and interests, during a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow, Russian news reports said. No delivered the message the previous day at a ceremony in Moscow, where he and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov unveiled a sculpture commemorating North Korean "partisans" who fought alongside Russian soldiers during World War II, according to Russian news agency Ria Novosti. Under the "strategic leadership" of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Putin, relations between the two countries are developing in "comprehensive and future-oriented cooperation," No said. Belousov said the monument symbolizes the "unbreakable brotherhood" of the peoples of the two countries, paying tribute to North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russia in its war against Ukraine. While North Korea typically reports on overseas trips by high-rank officials, North Korean media has made no mention of No's trip to Russia.