North Korea’s Foreign Minister, Choe Son Hui, is set to visit Russia this week, as reported by state media on Sunday. This visit comes amidst widespread international criticism over North Korea’s alleged weapons transfers to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Russia and North Korea, sharing a history of traditional alliances, have recently seen a revitalization in their ties. Notably, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia’s Far East in September to meet with President Vladimir Putin, marking one of his rare trips abroad. This visit was reciprocated by top Russian officials, including the Defense and Foreign Ministers, who traveled to North Korea last year. These exchanges have raised alarms among Kyiv’s allies over the possibility of a significant arms deal between the two countries.
The Korean Central News Agency announced Choe’s visit to the Russian Federation, scheduled from January 15 to 17, upon the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. This diplomatic engagement is closely watched by global observers due to the current geopolitical tensions.
The White House earlier this month leveled accusations against North Korea, stating that Pyongyang had supplied ballistic missiles and launchers to Russia, escalating its support for Moscow’s military efforts in Ukraine. These missiles, reportedly with ranges of approximately 900 kilometers, have been used in attacks on Ukrainian targets.
The growing military and economic cooperation between Russia and North Korea has become a significant concern for both Washington and Seoul. South Korea has alleged that North Korea provided over a million artillery rounds to Russia in exchange for military satellite technology advice. Following this alleged exchange, North Korea successfully launched a spy satellite into orbit last year, which Seoul claims was achieved with Russian assistance.
In a related development, the United States disclosed that North Korea had delivered substantial military equipment and munitions to Russia, further heightening concerns over the deepening military relationship between the two nations.