Russia’s top security official Sergei Shoigu stressed the importance of intelligence cooperation in a meeting with the head of North Korea’s secret police this week, following Pyongyang’s move to revamp its surveillance apparatus.

Shoigu met Ri Chang Dae on the sidelines of the International Security Forum in Moscow on Thursday, Russian state media and television reported. 

The event held under the auspices of Russia’s Security Council also showcased recent advances in military technology like drones, firearms and vehicles. Officials from some 120 nations are attending.

Shoigu, a former defense chief who currently serves as secretary of the Security Council, discussed