North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui will travel to Russia and Belarus at the invitation of their governments. The Choe Russia visit signals Pyongyang’s effort to strengthen ties with Moscow and Minsk amid regional tensions.
State media announced the trip on Sunday but did not provide exact dates or other details. Choe last visited Moscow in November last year and met Russian President Vladimir Putin. The upcoming Choe Russia visit will be her first in about a year.
Observers note that Choe’s trip comes amid speculation over a potential meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump will visit South Korea later this week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The Choe Russia visit makes a summit-level meeting seem less likely.
Ahead of his Asia trip, Trump said he remains willing to meet Kim if North Korea agrees. Analysts, however, see slim chances of a meeting. Pyongyang has deepened military ties with Russia and supported Moscow’s troop deployment in Ukraine.
North Korea is also restoring its relationship with China, strengthening its regional position. Kim has expressed openness to dialogue with the U.S. but only if Washington drops denuclearization demands.
Aboard Air Force One, Trump described North Korea as “sort of a nuclear power.” He responded to Pyongyang’s demand for recognition before negotiating. A senior U.S. official confirmed that a Trump-Kim meeting is not on the current schedule but cautioned that “things can change.”
Experts say the Choe Russia visit highlights North Korea’s priority on regional alliances. The trip also manages its engagement with the U.S. Pyongyang may use outcomes from Moscow and Minsk to shape future diplomacy.
In summary, the Choe Russia visit reflects North Korea’s effort to strengthen international alliances while recalibrating its U.S. diplomacy approach. Analysts will watch the results closely for signs of Pyongyang’s next moves.
