Putin Thanks North Korea for Support in War Against Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met with North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the Kremlin. Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea’s support of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, according to Russian state media reports.

Choe’s visit to Russia does not coincide with any apparent occasion such as a diplomatic conference or national celebration. This has led to speculation about a potential visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean media confirmed that Choe left for Russia by invitation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. However, they have not disclosed the visit’s purpose. South Korean Unification Ministry spokesperson Yoon Min Ho stated that Seoul is closely monitoring these diplomatic meetings. Nonetheless, they refrained from commenting on the likelihood of a forthcoming summit between Putin and Kim.

The Russian news agency Tass reported that during the meeting, Putin praised the bilateral relations between the two countries. Choe conveyed to Putin that Kim remains committed to enhancing relations with Russia. Kim has previously visited Russia, with summits in the Far East occurring in 2019 and 2023. In June 2024, during a summit in Pyongyang, Putin invited Kim for another visit, culminating in a strategic partnership agreement pledging mutual assistance if either nation encounters aggression.

Kim has prioritized Russia in his foreign policy, supplying troops and significant weaponry to aid Putin’s efforts in Ukraine. Analysts believe this support may be in exchange for economic benefits and technology exchanges to bolster North Korea’s military capabilities.

In addition to strengthening ties with Russia, Kim has been working on relations with China. In June, he welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping for a summit in Pyongyang, seeking to align with China against U.S. policies. Choe’s trip to Moscow followed high-level visits between North Korea and China, including North Korean Cabinet premier, Pak Thae Song, meeting Xi in Beijing, and Wang Huning from the Chinese Communist Party visiting Pyongyang.

Kim has halted meaningful dialogue with the U.S. and South Korea following the failure of nuclear negotiations with former President Donald Trump in 2019. He has leveraged Russia’s conflict in Ukraine to expedite his nuclear weapons development while rejecting U.S. calls for nuclear disarmament as a condition for talks.