North Korea-Russia ties reached a new stage this week as North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. The meeting underscored deepening cooperation following last month’s summit between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
During the talks, Choe praised the Kim-Putin meeting as a historic milestone that lifted North Korea-Russia ties to “a new height.” She reaffirmed Pyongyang’s support for Russia’s policy of protecting its territorial integrity. Choe also planned to meet President Putin later in the day, signaling the growing strategic importance of the partnership.
Lavrov emphasized that North Korea-Russia ties have gained “a powerful impetus” in recent months. He noted that recent high-level agreements accelerated collaboration in defense, diplomacy, and energy. According to Lavrov, the two nations now share a stronger foundation for mutual trust and coordination.
Since June last year, the two countries have solidified their alliance through a mutual defense treaty. North Korea has also dispatched around 15,000 troops to support Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. Lavrov expressed gratitude for what he called the “heroic deeds” of North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region, describing them as a symbol of lasting friendship.
Choe’s Moscow visit marked her first in about a year. She arrived Sunday as part of a two-nation trip that also includes Belarus. Her delegation’s private jet left Pyongyang International Airport earlier that day, reflecting the growing frequency of North Korea’s diplomatic outreach to allied nations.
Choe’s trip coincides with South Korea’s hosting of the APEC summit in Gyeongju later this month. Her absence from Pyongyang during the event suggests that no meeting between Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump will take place at the summit.
Trump, currently on an Asia tour, expressed hope to meet Kim again. However, diplomatic signals from Pyongyang and Moscow indicate that North Korea-Russia ties have become a higher strategic priority for both governments.
As Choe’s meetings continue, analysts expect further agreements reinforcing trade, defense cooperation, and regional coordination. Both sides appear determined to deepen their alignment amid shifting global alliances and continued tensions with the West.
