Russian Security chief Shoigu visits DPRK to advance defense pact
2 Min Read
Sergei Shoigu visits Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong Un, as Moscow deepens strategic military ties with the DPRK.
-
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with senior military officers in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. (AP)
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday to engage in high-level talks with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leadership.
The visit comes less than two weeks after Shoigu’s previous trip to the country and follows up on commitments made during that earlier meeting.
According to a statement from the Russian Security Council, Shoigu’s current visit is aimed at implementing agreements forged on June 4, in the context of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the DPRK.
Shoigu’s return to Pyongyang marks his second visit to the country this year, following previous meetings with leader Kim Jong Un and senior military officials.
During the early June discussions, both sides expressed their intent to expand Russia-DPRK ties into “powerful and comprehensive relations of strategic partnership,” as reported by DPRK’s state media KCNA.
Shoigu last visited the country in March, and the intensified diplomatic exchanges reflect a growing alignment between the two nations amid Moscow’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
Second meeting with Kim Jong Un in two weeks
Russian news agencies reported that Shoigu was expected to meet Kim Jong Un during his stay, though the specifics of the agenda remain undisclosed. Shoigu’s back-to-back visits underscore the urgency and depth of coordination between Russia and the DPRK, particularly as Pyongyang has emerged as one of Moscow’s main allies in the region.
Reports indicate that the DPRK has sent troops to assist Russian operations near its Kursk border and has been providing arms to Russia, although these claims remain unconfirmed by official Russian channels.
The growing cooperation follows a rare visit by Putin to the DPRK last year, during which the two countries signed a broad military agreement, including a mutual defense clause. That deal has laid the groundwork for the current round of accelerated diplomatic activity between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Shoigu’s latest trip not only seeks to implement prior commitments but also highlights Russia’s shifting alliances in Asia as it looks to counterbalance Western influence and reinforce its military position amid continued war in Ukraine.
