North Korean Foreign Minister Meets Putin, Discusses Support for Ukraine War

Moscow. North Korean Foreign Minister Cho Son Hui has held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Russian state media, Putin expressed gratitude for Pyongyang's support in the war against Ukraine during the latest high-level diplomatic meeting between the two countries.

Cho's visit to Russia, which took place without any multilateral diplomatic program or national celebration, has fueled speculation about a possible visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia. According to North Korean media, Cho arrived in Russia on Saturday at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. However, Pyongyang has not provided detailed information about the purpose of the visit.

Yoon Min Ho, a spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, said on Monday that Seoul is closely monitoring these meetings. However, he declined to comment on whether discussions are underway for another summit meeting between Moscow and Pyongyang at the leader level.

According to the Russian news agency 'TASS', at the meeting held in the Kremlin, Putin praised the relations between the two countries and expressed gratitude to the North Korean leadership and people for their cooperation during the ongoing military operation in Ukraine. In response, Cho stated that Kim Jong Un is committed to developing relations with Russia comprehensively.

Kim had previously visited Russia for summit talks with Putin in 2019 and 2023. During Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June 2024, the two leaders signed a strategic partnership agreement, pledging mutual assistance if either side is attacked.

In recent years, North Korea has prioritized its relations with Russia. The Kim administration has been accused of providing military and arms support to Russia in the Ukraine war. In return, experts suggest that North Korea may be receiving economic assistance and military technology.

Meanwhile, Kim continues to strive to strengthen relations with China. In June, he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang. It is analyzed that North Korea is expanding its cooperation with Russia and China with the aim of countering the influence of the United States and its allies.

Before the visit to Russia, high-ranking North Korean officials had visited China. North Korean Cabinet Premier Pak Thae Song met with Xi in Beijing, while senior Chinese Communist Party official Wang Huning visited Pyongyang for discussions with Kim.

After the nuclear talks with then-US President Donald Trump failed in 2019, Kim has largely halted dialogue with the United States and South Korea. He is accused of using the Ukraine war as an opportunity to expand his nuclear weapons and missile programs. On the other hand, the United States insists on denuclearization as a prerequisite for talks with North Korea.