Russia’s top security official arrived in North Korea on Wednesday for high-level discussions with leader Kim Jong Un, in a move signaling deepening strategic ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, particularly concerning Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to Russian state media outlet Tass, Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council and former defense minister, is meeting with North Korean officials to advance the strategic partnership agreement signed by President Vladimir Putin and Kim in June 2024.
The agenda reportedly includes global security issues, with particular focus on the conflict in Ukraine. Shoigu’s visit marks his second trip to Pyongyang this year, following a March visit aimed at expanding bilateral military cooperation.
In a notable development earlier this year, the Kremlin acknowledged that North Korean troops are operating alongside Russian forces to counter Ukrainian advances near Russia’s Kursk border region.
Putin publicly praised the North Korean soldiers in April, stating they had “stood shoulder to shoulder” with Russian troops in defense of the country.
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Kyiv had previously claimed in January that its forces captured two North Korean soldiers during clashes in the Kursk area — the first such confirmation from Ukraine since Pyongyang reportedly deployed thousands of troops to support Russia’s military campaign.
The growing alliance between the two authoritarian regimes is raising concerns among Western powers, particularly as both nations face increasing isolation and sanctions from the international community.
