North Korean vice defense minister Kim Hyong Ryong arrived in Beijing Thursday morning to attend a China-hosted annual security forum, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported, amid increasing military cooperation between the two countries.

Colonel General Kim, spotted at Beijing Capital International Airport, is believed to be attending the 9th Beijing Xiangshang Forum to be held between October 20 and 22 at the 9th Beijing International Convention Center, Yonhap reported citing an unnamed source.

The vice defense minister attended and delivered a speech at the 8th forum in October 2018, which also saw an impromptu ten-minute meetingwith then-South Korean Vice Minister of