N. Korean foreign minister on official visit to Russia: Moscow
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North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui is making an official visit to Russia on Saturday at the invitation of her Russian counterpart, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced, as the two allies continue to strengthen ties since Moscow's war with Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Choe Son-hui will arrive in the Russian Federation on July 18 for an official visit at the invitation" of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
China remains North Korea's main economic backer, but ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have grown significantly closer since Russia launched its full-scale war with Ukraine in 2022.
During Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in 2024, the two countries signed a mutual defense agreement.
Pyongyang has since deployed ground troops to Russia's Kursk region, in addition to supplying weapons systems, in support of Russia's war effort in Ukraine.
Analysts say the isolated, disaster-prone North Korean state has received financial, food, and energy assistance from Moscow in return, as well as military technology.
In late April, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed Pyongyang's support for Russia's offensive in Ukraine, pledging to help Moscow achieve victory in what he described as its "sacred war."
His remarks came during a visit to Pyongyang by senior Russian officials led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.
At the time, both sides said they had discussed strengthening military ties, and Belousov expressed Moscow's readiness to sign a bilateral cooperation plan covering the 2027-2031 period.
