Russia’s top security official Sergei Shoigu visits Pyongyang for high-level talks with Kim Jong-un amid reports of deepening military ties and troop cooperation in the Ukraine war. The visit marks growing strategic alignment between Russia and North Korea despite rising global condemnation and UN sanctions.
Russia’s Security Council Secretary, Sergei Shoigu, arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday to hold a significant meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to reports by Russian news agency Tass. The visit was made under direct instructions from President Vladimir Putin and comes amid growing military and diplomatic ties between the two isolated nations.
Shoigu’s trip is sparking speculation about an upcoming summit between Kim and Putin, possibly to mark the first anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defence Treaty in June 2024. This treaty has already led to notable developments, including the controversial deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to support Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Citing Russia’s Security Council, Tass reported that Shoigu and Kim are expected to discuss the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed last year. They will also commemorate the involvement of North Korean forces in the Russia-Ukraine war. The talks may also cover wider international issues, particularly those involving the Ukraine crisis.
This visit marks Shoigu’s second trip to North Korea in less than three months, highlighting the intensifying collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang. His previous visit focused on military cooperation and defense partnerships. Notably, Shoigu also met North Korea’s State Security Minister, Ri Chang-dae, just a week ago in Moscow during an international security summit. Their discussion centered on continued military support and troop deployments in Ukraine.
Amid severe international sanctions, North Korea has increasingly relied on Russia for economic and technological support. In exchange for troops and arms, Pyongyang is believed to have received advanced defense technologies, aiding its nuclear and missile programs.
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Meanwhile, tensions have further escalated with the international community. On June 2, North Korea strongly condemned the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) for releasing a report that detailed illicit military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. The report, published under the auspices of the UN Security Council, outlined violations related to North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities.
North Korea’s foreign ministry accused the MSMT of violating the sovereign rights of a UN member state and denounced the report as a “political provocation.” The regime maintains that its cooperation with Russia is a legitimate exercise of its national interests.
Shoigu’s ongoing visit, amid international scrutiny and regional tensions, signals a bold and deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea—one that could reshape security dynamics in Northeast Asia and further challenge existing global sanctions regimes.
