Russia’s foreign minister on Saturday warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as

Relations between Russia and North Korea have flourished in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunition to support Russia's war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance.

The development came Friday as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was to travel to North Korea amid booming military and other cooperation between the two countries that have raised concerns among their neighbors.