A delegation led by North Korea’s parliamentary speaker on Monday left for Moscow, Pyongyang’s media reported, in what could be a sign of deepening ties between the two nations.

Choe Thae-bok, chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the North’s rubber-stamp parliament, kicked off a trip to Russia earlier in the day, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said.

The KCNA did not specify details about his itinerary, including the reason for Choe’s trip to Russia.