Russia's security alliance with North Korea appears to be tightening as Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council and one of Vladimir Putin’s closest advisors, arrived in Pyongyang for a high-level visit.
According to Russian state media, Shoigu is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other senior officials to discuss security cooperation.
Symbolic and Strategic Gestures
Shoigu began his visit by laying a wreath at a monument honoring Red Army soldiers who helped liberate northern Korea from Japanese occupation at the end of World War II. The move, reported by Russian news agency TASS, underscored historical ties now being reinforced amid current geopolitical shifts.
The North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported that Shoigu’s delegation was received by top Pyongyang officials and Russia’s ambassador to North Korea, Aleksandr Matsegora.
This visit comes against the backdrop of an increasingly active military partnership between the two countries.
Last year, Russia and North Korea signed a strategic cooperation treaty that reportedly includes a mutual defense clause. Although details remain vague, both sides have confirmed ongoing implementation.
Troops, Weapons, and Technology Exchange
According to U.S., Ukrainian, and South Korean officials, North Korea has already sent over 10,000 troops to support Russian efforts in Ukraine, particularly in the contested Kursk region. The North has also allegedly supplied heavy weaponry, including artillery and ballistic missiles.
In exchange, Pyongyang is believed to be receiving military and civilian technology, as well as economic aid from Moscow, as reported by HotNews.ro.
Despite international concerns, neither country has officially acknowledged the reported military deployments or weapons transfers. Still, the deepening cooperation signals a renewed axis of alignment between two of the most isolated and heavily sanctioned regimes in the world.
