North Korea has announced it is sending a delegation to Iran led by the minister for external economic relations. Speculation that the two countries may also seek to deepen military ties is rising.

North Korea said the delegation headed by Yun Jong Ho left the capital Pyongyang on Tuesday. Their arrival at an airport in the Chinese capital Beijing for a stopover was confirmed.

Radio Press, which monitors North Korean media, says the last time the country officially announced the dispatch of a delegation to Iran was in August 2019.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a message to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in February this year, expressing confidence that cooperation between the two countries will expand and develop in various fields.

North Korea and Iran are said to have cooperative ties in the military field as well.

The US and its European allies have pointed out that the two countries supplied weapons to Russia, which continues to invade Ukraine.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports Yun's trip raises speculation that along with economic cooperation, North Korea may seek to deepen military ties with Iran.