What's happened
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Russia, passing on Kim Jong Un's warm wishes amid ongoing military and diplomatic cooperation. The visit follows recent high-level meetings, including Putin and Kim's September encounter in Beijing, highlighting strengthened military support and strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.
What's behind the headline?
The recent diplomatic activities between North Korea and Russia signal a deliberate effort to solidify their strategic alliance amid Western sanctions and international isolation. The passing of Kim's wishes through Choe and the high-profile meetings serve as a show of unity, especially as both countries face pressure from the West. The deployment of North Korean troops and military aid to Russia's Ukraine campaign underscores Pyongyang's willingness to leverage its military assets for geopolitical gains. This alliance is likely to deepen, with Russia seeking to bolster its military capabilities and North Korea aiming to secure economic and diplomatic support. The timing suggests a calculated move to counterbalance Western influence and expand their mutual strategic interests, potentially destabilizing regional security dynamics further.
What the papers say
The Moscow Times reports that Choe Son Hui conveyed Kim Jong Un's warm wishes during her visit, emphasizing the 'spiritual closeness' between Moscow and Pyongyang, and highlights the recent military cooperation. The Independent details Putin and Kim's September meeting in Beijing, noting the shared military support and the deployment of North Korean troops to Ukraine, with estimates of casualties and military aid. South China Morning Post provides context on North Korea's deepening ties with Russia, including the 2024 defense pact and military aid, alongside Western concerns over technology support and weapon fragments found in Ukraine. Al Jazeera covers the public ceremonies honoring North Korean soldiers who fought in Ukraine, emphasizing Kim's portrayal of their deployment as a milestone in militant solidarity. Bloomberg reports on the upcoming visit of Choe Son Hui to Russia, framing it within the broader context of escalating North Korea-Russia relations and recent high-level meetings, including the September Beijing summit. Overall, these sources collectively portray a strategic alliance driven by mutual interests, military cooperation, and shared opposition to Western sanctions, with recent visits and agreements reinforcing this partnership.
How we got here
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, North Korea and Russia have increased diplomatic and military cooperation. They signed a strategic partnership in 2024, committing to mutual support in conflicts. North Korea has sent thousands of troops and military equipment to aid Russia's efforts in Ukraine, with both nations denying and later acknowledging these actions amid Western scrutiny. The relationship has been marked by shared opposition to Western sanctions and support for each other's geopolitical interests, with recent visits and agreements reinforcing their alliance.
Go deeper
Common question
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Why Are North Korea and Russia Strengthening Ties Now?
Recent developments show North Korea deepening its alliance with Russia, including military support and diplomatic visits. This raises questions about the reasons behind their growing partnership and what it means for global security. Below, we explore the key factors driving this alliance and what potential risks it might pose to the international community.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
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Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov is a Russian diplomat and politician. In office since 2004, he is the Foreign Minister of Russia. Previously, he was the Russian Representative to the UN, serving in the role from 1994 to 2004.
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Choe Son-hui is a senior North Korean diplomat. She is the First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and is one of few North Korean women holding a high-level office.
Choe is a seasoned interpreter, aide, researcher, and Foreign Ministry official.
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Kim Jong-un is a North Korean politician who has been the supreme leader of North Korea since 2011 and chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea since 2012.