North Korea has sent an economic delegation to Iran, and while few details were given, there was speculation in South Korea that military cooperation between the two authoritarian regimes could be discussed.
The delegation, led by the Minister for Economic Relations Yun Jong Ho, left on Tuesday to visit Iran, North Korean state media reported on Wednesday.
Both internationally isolated countries have been accused of active military cooperation, particularly in the field of missile technology, in the past.
The most recent visit by a high-ranking North Korean delegation took place in 2019, according to the Iranian state agency IRNA.
At that time, Pak Chol Min, a vice chairman of the parliament, visited Tehran to discuss bilateral cooperation with representatives of the Iranian parliament and others.
It was unclear whether the delegation's current visit also took place with Middle East tensions in mind. A few days ago, an Iranian commander indicated that the Islamic Republic could review its nuclear doctrine. In response, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed fears that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons.
North Korea is subject to tough international sanctions over its nuclear weapons and missile programmes.