Summary of external news of North Korea this week

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of external news on North Korea this week.

------------N. Korean FM says Pyongyang shares common position with Russia on all strategic issues: report

SEOUL -- North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said her country shares "a common position" with Russia on all strategic issues at an event commemorating a late Russian ambassador, a Russian report has said.

Choe made the remarks the previous day at a ceremony unveiling a memorial plaque at the Russian Embassy dedicated to former Ambassador Alexander Matsegora, the Tass news agency said.

------------U.S. open to dialogue with N. Korea, committed to complete denuclearization: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States remains open to dialogue with North Korea "without preconditions," and committed to the "complete" denuclearization of the recalcitrant country, a State Department spokesperson said Thursday.

The spokesperson's remarks came after Pyongyang's state media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a newly launched nuclear material production facility earlier this week, vowing to "exponentially" strengthen the country's nuclear arsenal.