A high-level North Korean economic delegation was on its way to Iran for what would be the two countries’ first known talks since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEOUL (Reuters) - A North Korean delegation led by the cabinet minister for international trade is visiting Iran, the North's official media said on Wednesday in a rare public report of an exchange between the two countries believed to have secret military ties.

North Korea sent its highest-level delegation to Iran in about five years as the US raised concerns that arms sales from Pyongyang and Tehran have helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The European Commission is expected to propose sanctions on ships delivering North Korean military equipment to Russia as well as tankers that flout the G7 price cap on Russian oil, European Union sources said.

The European Commission will suggest sanctions against the vessels delivering North Korean military equipment to Russia, as well as tankers that violate the G7 countries' price cap on Russian oil. Source: Reuters with reference to sources in the EU Details: The European Commission is finishing its proposal concerning the 14th sanctions package against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

The European Commission plans to propose sanctions against vessels transporting North Korean weapons to Russia, Reuters informs. According to sources, the European Commission will propose sanctions not only against vessels transporting weapons but also against tankers that exceed the established Group of Seven boundary price for Russian oil.