According to a Chinese media report, the defense ministers of North Korea and China both attended an international conference in Russia but did not hold a separate meeting.

Voice of America (VOA), a sister publication of China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday that North Korea’s Defense Minister Hyon Yong-chol and Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan were present at the Moscow Conference on International Security held on Thursday. However, no meetings or talks were arranged.

The report said that relations between Pyongyang and Beijing remain strained in contrast to closer ties between China and Russia.