Russian Security Chief Visits N. Korea to Discuss Ukraine Conflict

    0
    0

    Russia’s premier security official made an appearance in North Korea on Wednesday to engage in discussions with the country’s leader, signaling further alignment between the two authoritarian nations in light of Vladimir Putin’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to reports from a Russian news agency, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu plan to delve into specifics regarding the strategic partnership agreement forged between Moscow and Pyongyang, a pact initially signed by Kim and Putin in June 2024.

    The dialogue is slated to address various international issues, particularly focusing on the contentious situation in Ukraine, as detailed by Russian media with input from the Security Council’s press representatives. Notably, Sergei Shoigu, known for his previous role as Russia’s defense minister, last visited the North Korean capital in late March.

    In April, official statements from the Kremlin confirmed the involvement of North Korean troops in combating a Ukrainian incursion within Russia’s Kursk border area. At that juncture, Putin commended the North Korean soldiers, acknowledging their efforts in fighting alongside Russian forces, asserting they defended Russia with the same dedication as they would their homeland.

    Earlier this year, in January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukrainian troops had captured two North Korean soldiers on Russian soil in Kursk. This marked Ukraine’s first public acknowledgment since North Korea dispatched numerous troops to bolster Russia’s military efforts across the globe.