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Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea and ammunition to support Russia鈥檚 war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might also transfer to North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs.

Speaking with reporters after a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui, Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea and Japan of what he called their military buildups around North Korea.

鈥淲e warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia,鈥� he said, according to Russia’s state Tass news agency.

The U.S., South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea鈥檚 advancing nuclear program. On Friday, the three countries held involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security.

North Korea views major U.S.-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. It has long argued that it鈥檚 forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from U.S. military threats.

Lavrov said Russia understands North Korea鈥檚 decision to seek

鈥淭he technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Korea鈥檚 aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing nuclear development,鈥� Lavrov said, according to Tass.

During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea 鈥渦nconditionally鈥� supports Russia鈥檚 fight against Ukraine, as Lavrov repeated Russia鈥檚 gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia鈥檚 .

Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people.

In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that 鈥淚 am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel,鈥� according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of Kim’s push to boost tourism as a way to improve his country鈥檚 troubled economy. However, prospects for the tourist complex aren鈥檛 clear, as North Korea appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon.

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Associated Press reporter Elise Morton in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report.