Russia, DPRK advance military-political cooperation talks
3 Min Read
A senior Russian military delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin visited Pyongyang for consultations aimed at expanding military-political cooperation with the DPRK.
-
A Russian military delegation meets with a senior DPRK army official during talks in Pyongyang, highlighting expanding defense and political cooperation between the two countries (Screengrab, Sputnik)
A senior Russian military delegation has held talks in Pyongyang aimed at expanding cooperation with the DPRK, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday. The group, led by Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin, arrived in the country on November 5 for consultations with the leadership of the Korean People's Army (KPA).
Goremykin met with DPRK Defense Minister No Kwang Chol to review prospects for closer coordination between the armed forces of both states. According to Moscow, the discussions centered on joint military-political activities involving the Russian Armed Forces and the KPA. During the talks, Goremykin stressed that "fraternal ties between Russia and the DPRK are actively expanding in many areas, including military cooperation."
For his part, No said the visit "contributes to the further strengthening of military brotherhood between the two armies and stimulates cooperation between military-political bodies," underscoring the political dimension of the growing partnership.
The Russian delegation’s program also included a visit to the Red Flag Mangyongdae Revolutionary School, an elite institution for the children of KPA service members. North Korean officials briefed Goremykin on how the school organizes its ideological and academic curriculum and gave him a tour of its facilities.
Later, Goremykin held talks with Pak Yong-il, vice director of the KPA’s General Political Bureau. Pak described the Russian trip as significant "for the ideological and political preparation of service members," highlighting Pyongyang’s view that military-political education is central to the bilateral relationship.
The visit concluded with a ceremonial stop at Pyongyang’s Liberation Monument, where the delegation placed flowers in tribute to Soviet soldiers who died fighting Japanese occupation forces in 1945.
🇷🇺🇰🇵 Russian Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin visited Pyongyang, meeting North Korean counterparts to boost military-political cooperation
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) November 8, 2025
His delegation also honored Soviet soldiers who liberated Korea from Japanese occupation pic.twitter.com/Y27av4u8SL
Strategic Convergence
Russia and the DPRK have been tightening their cooperation amid shifting geopolitical alignments, with both governments emphasizing shared historical ties and common strategic interests. The latest visit comes after a series of developments underscoring the depth of their alignment.
Earlier in October, DPRK Defense Minister No Kwang Chol pledged Pyongyang’s full backing for Russia’s defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Moscow publicly praised DPRK units involved in the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. Days later, Kim Jong Un described the countries’ “militant fraternity” as a bond sealed in blood that would “advance non-stop” under a mutual defense pact signed earlier this year.
According to assessments from Kiev and Seoul, the DPRK has supplied Russia with artillery shells, short-range missiles, and military personnel, with both governments estimating that more than 10,000 DPRK troops have been deployed to assist Russian forces in the ongoing conflict.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has also estimated heavy casualties among DPRK units. These developments reflect a broader strategic convergence, with Moscow and Pyongyang presenting their partnership as part of a shifting global order increasingly defined by new poles of political and military cooperation.
