DPRK-Russia security ties deepen as Moscow praises Pyongyang for aligning with its military operations and anti-Western vision. Russian Security Council chief Sergei Shoigu met DPRK State Security Minister Ri Chang Dae in Moscow on Wednesday. Shoigu thanked North Korean troops for defending Kursk “as if it were their own motherland.” He described their partnership as a fight for a multipolar global order, a phrase used by both governments. The meeting occurred during a major international security forum attended by 104 countries.
DPRK-Russia security ties deepen as Shoigu confirmed that multiple Russian delegations will visit Pyongyang in coming months. In August, Russia’s State Duma chief will attend the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan. In October, ruling party leader Dmitry Medvedev will join the celebrations of North Korea’s Workers’ Party foundation. Shoigu said DPRK support proves their nations share a deeper struggle against global hegemonic powers. He also compared their cooperation to anti-colonial resistance against imperial Japan.
Shoigu thanked North Korean soldiers for standing “shoulder to shoulder” with Russian forces during Ukraine’s cross-border attacks on Kursk. He praised President Vladimir Putin’s public welcome of DPRK commanders at Russia’s Victory Day parade. DPRK-Russia security ties deepen as Shoigu proposed memorials in Kursk to honor fallen North Korean fighters. Russian officials also plan to rename local landmarks in recognition of their contribution. He called preserving their memory a “sacred duty.”
Kim Jong Un previously defended the troop deployment in Russia during a speech at the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang. He described Ukraine’s government as “neo-Nazi” and praised Moscow’s role in creating a multipolar world. Shoigu echoed those claims and called DPRK foreign policy “genuinely independent” and grounded in justice. He noted Pyongyang supported Russia after the annexation of Crimea and other Ukrainian regions. The two governments continue to use shared rhetoric to strengthen their military alliance.
Meanwhile, Russian police officials expanded cooperation with their DPRK counterparts through high-level meetings in Pyongyang. Deputy minister Vitaly Shulika met Minister Pang Tu Sop and Deputy Minister Ri Song Chol on Wednesday. Both sides agreed to broaden exchanges between public security agencies and deepen law enforcement ties. Shulika also toured Pyongyang landmarks and visited the Soviet war cemetery in Sadong. DPRK-Russia security ties deepen not just through symbolism, but also through expanding institutional cooperation.
