North Korean security delegation heads to Moscow this week for a high-stakes visit amid escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war. Led by Minister of State Security Ri Chang Dae, the delegation will attend the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues. Scheduled to run from Tuesday to Thursday, the forum offers a platform for bilateral talks with Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu. Analysts say the visit may pave the way for expanded military and labour cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. North Korean security delegation heads to Moscow while the global spotlight intensifies on their growing strategic alignment.
DPRK state media confirmed the delegation’s departure on Tuesday, while Russia’s foreign ministry announced Shoigu’s plans to meet North Korean representatives. The two countries have previously strengthened ties, with Ri hosting Russian intelligence officials in Pyongyang last year. In a reciprocal move, Russian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Vitaly Shulika arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for talks with North Korean police. State media reported that Ri Song Chol, deputy head of public security, welcomed the delegation at Sunan International Airport. North Korean security delegation heads to Moscow as law enforcement diplomacy deepens alongside military discussions.
Experts believe these talks may result in more North Korean troops entering the conflict zone in Ukraine. Chris Monday, a Russia researcher at Dongseo University, noted that Moscow could escalate its involvement asymmetrically with DPRK military support. Following recent drone and missile exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow, Russia’s strategic calculations appear to be shifting. The West’s decision to lift restrictions on long-range weapons to Ukraine could prompt further reaction. North Korean security delegation heads to Moscow just as military tensions reach a new boiling point.
Besides troop deployments, experts anticipate discussions on labour migration during this week’s bilateral meetings. Monday suggested Russia might expand the use of North Korean workers due to domestic labour shortages and rising inflation. Russian propaganda outlets have portrayed North Korean workers as model labourers, contrasting them with Central Asian migrants. Footage from Vladivostok recently captured rising tensions between North Korean and Uzbek workers. The demand for DPRK labourers in Russia’s construction and defense industries continues to grow despite UN sanctions.
Thousands of North Korean nationals have entered Russia using student visas, many of whom reportedly work in violation of international agreements. Ukraine’s intelligence services revealed that Pyongyang has dispatched skilled labourers to sensitive defense sectors, including aviation. North Korean troops captured earlier this year were notably absent from the latest Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange. Their exclusion may reflect political complications surrounding their deployment. As the North Korean security delegation heads to Moscow, experts warn of further convergence between two increasingly isolated regimes.
