North Korean agricultural and forestry delegations headed to Russia over the weekend in what one expert described as a bid by Moscow to repay Pyongyang for its supplies of weapons. 

DPRK vice premier and chairman of the Agricultural Commission Ri Chol Man was among the officials who left for Russia on Saturday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the following day.

Moscow’s ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, reportedly saw the officials off at Sunan International Airport, the Russian embassy announced via Telegram.

Ri and his entourage are expected to have a “rich program” in Russia, according to