Russia’s Security Council Secretary, Sergey Shoigu, visited North Korea on Wednesday as part of the deepening strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Shoigu, who served as Russia’s Minister of Defense from November 2012 until May 2024, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang to discuss the implementation of key provisions in the “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” according to a statement from the Russian Security Council’s press service.
Following the meeting, North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim Jong Un as affirming Pyongyang's 'unconditional support' for Russia in its war against the "terrorists Kiev regime".
In addition to discussing the terms of the bilateral treaty, Shoigu and Kim addressed the commemoration of North Korean soldiers who reportedly assisted Russian forces in liberating the Kursk region. The two leaders also exchanged views on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the broader security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The treaty, signed in July 2024, includes a formal defense pact between the two countries. In April, the Russian government officially acknowledged that North Korean troops had fought alongside Russian forces against a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region. Following the revelation, Moscow clarified that North Korea’s military presence was authorized under the terms of the strategic partnership and further stated that Russia would reciprocate by defending North Korea in the event of an external attack—confirming that the pact amounts to a full-fledged defense alliance.
Since the rapprochement between Russia and North Korea in 2023, Pyongyang has made notable military advancements, likely aided by Russian support. These include the modernization of its armored vehicle fleet, the domestic construction of naval destroyers, and the launch of satellites—developments that have significantly altered North Korea’s first-strike capabilities in the region.
However, North Korea’s most consequential advances have come in the field of hypersonic missile technology and its nuclear weapons program—capabilities that have not gone unnoticed in Washington.
In the wake of reports confirming the presence of North Korean troops in Kursk, it emerged that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a renewed push for nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang, similar to efforts undertaken during his first term. Yet, analysts note that given North Korea’s strengthened conventional and non-conventional capabilities, coupled with its newly solidified alliance with Russia, Pyongyang may see little incentive to return to the negotiating table with Washington.