Sergei Shoigu’s Second Visit to North Korea Amid Military Cooperation

Sergei Shoigu visits North Korea for the second time in six months to meet Kim Jong-un. This visit follows a recent trip by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and occurs amid North Korea’s military support to Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Approximately 12,000 North Korean troops are reportedly involved in the war.

Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, recently arrived in North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong-un, as reported by South Korean news agency Yonhap. This visit, taking place on March 21, marks Shoigu’s second trip to Pyongyang in just six months, where he is expected to discuss matters with Kim Jong-un and other top North Korean officials.

Earlier this month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko visited North Korea as well, meeting with Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. Their discussions centered around enhancing political ties at both high and top levels. The current exchanges between North Korea and Russia come amidst reports of North Korea supplying military support to Moscow in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Shoigu’s previous visit occurred in September 2024, during which he also engaged in discussions with Kim Jong-un. North Korea has purportedly been involved in the war against Ukraine, providing troops and support; Ukrainian intelligence estimates that approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to join Russian forces.

These North Korean troops have seen combat in the Kursk region of Russia, though they were temporarily withdrawn after sustaining heavy losses. They have since been redeployed for additional operations. Furthermore, South Korean intelligence has indicated that North Korea continues to provide further military support to Russia, including technical assistance for drone development.

In summary, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu’s recent visit to North Korea emphasizes the strengthening relationship between the two nations, especially in the context of military cooperation. The backdrop of North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war and ongoing political discussions between leaders are critical factors in this evolving alliance.

Original Source: newsukraine.rbc.ua