South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy Hwang Joon-kook is set to conduct a four-day visit to Russia next week, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday.

Hwang is expected to meet with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov on arrival and will discuss North Korea’s nuclear program and related security issues on the peninsula.

The trip follows a recent visit to Russia by North Korean special envoy Choe Ryong Hae, amid a continued warming of ties between the two countries.

“Under the situation where North Korea appears to be closer to Russia than its long-time ally of China, Hwang’s