Vladimir Putin met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui to express gratitude for Pyongyang's military support during the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the Kremlin on Sunday to strengthen bilateral ties. During the meeting, Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea for its significant military contributions to the special military operation against Ukraine, specifically noting the deployment of Korean People's Army soldiers to the Kursk Region. Choe Son Hui reaffirmed that North Korea remains committed to the comprehensive development of its relationship with Russia and pledged continued support for Moscow's sovereignty and security interests. While the visit was not tied to a specific anniversary, analysts suggest Choe Son Hui may be coordinating a future visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The meeting highlights a period of deepening cooperation between the two nations, as Kim Jong Un has prioritized Russia in his foreign policy, providing thousands of troops and vast supplies of weapons. Meanwhile, North Korea continues to balance these ties by strengthening its relationship with China, even as it maintains a period of suspended dialogue with the United States following the collapse of nuclear diplomacy with President Trump in 2019.

Sources