Strengthening Security Ties: Shoigu’s Visit to North Korea

Sergei Shoigu, top security adviser to Vladimir Putin, visits North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un amid increasing military cooperation. North Korea allegedly deployed troops to Russia, providing artillery and missiles. Both nations continue to deepen their strategic partnership, focusing on mutual defense.

Sergei Shoigu, the top security adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has arrived in North Korea, intending to meet with leader Kim Jong Un as reported by TASS news agency. This visit marks a significant moment in the evolving security relations between Russia and North Korea.

Details regarding Mr. Shoigu’s arrival were sparse in the TASS report, and North Korean state media remained silent. Mr. Shoigu, who served as Russia’s defense minister until May, had previously visited Pyongyang amid claims that North Korea was preparing to send troops to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.

U.S. and South Korean intelligence suggest that nearly 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, engaging in combat operations. Additionally, North Korea is accused of providing heavy weaponry, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to assist Russian forces.

Amid ongoing military actions in Kursk, where Russian forces confront a Ukrainian offensive, both North Korea and Russia have purportedly enhanced their military collaboration. In return for their support, North Korea is believed to be receiving military technology and economic assistance from Moscow.

While neither nation has formally acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops or weapons, they emphasize the continuation of a strategic partnership established through a treaty signed in June 2024, which includes mutual defense commitments. Under this pact, both countries are bound to assist one another in the event of an attack.

The recent visit of Russia’s top security adviser to North Korea underlines the strengthening security ties between the two nations amidst ongoing military cooperation. While North Korea remains reticent about its contributions to the conflict in Ukraine, their strategic partnership with Russia continues to evolve, significantly impacting regional stability and international relations.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk