Pyongyang (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, according to his office on Saturday. Lavrov is visiting North Korea this weekend, indicating growing ties between Moscow and Pyongyang as North Korea becomes more involved in Russia’s war in Ukraine, a Russian news agency reported.
Lavrov flew out of Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Friday following the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, arriving the same day in Wonsan, North Korea, home to a newly opened seaside resort but also known for its missile and naval facilities.
Previously, the Russian Foreign Minister had also an encounter with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui, during which he thanked the Far Eastern nation for supporting Moscow in bringing the Kursk region “closer to liberation” from “Ukrainian Nazis.”
What did Lavrov discuss in Pyongyang?
Lavrov’s visit marks the most recent high-level meeting between the two nations as they strengthen their strategic partnership to encompass a mutual defence agreement.
“We exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis … Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces,”
The Russian news agency stated that the new Wonsan coastal resort has the potential to increase Russian tourism to North Korea. This is based on the restart of direct train services from Moscow to Pyongyang and an upcoming project to construct a bridge across the Tumen River, which marks part of the border between North Korea, China, and Russia.
How involved is North Korea in the Ukraine war?
According to experts, Lavrov’s visit occurs at a pivotal moment for Russian-North Korean relations. Ukrainian intelligence reports that Pyongyang plans to deploy an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers to support Moscow’s intensified offensive in Ukraine. This builds on the roughly 11,000 troops Pyongyang sent last year.
The US has also become more frustrated with Russia. President Donald Trump has accused Vladimir Putin of dismissing peace talks as ‘bullsh*t’ and has promised increased support for Ukraine.
The trip could further reinforce an alliance that might transform not only the conflict in Ukraine but also the security landscape in Asia. Despite significant battlefield casualties, North Korea has become more involved in Russia’s war effort. Western officials estimate that around 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia.
In the Russian border area of Kursk, where North Korean soldiers aided in repelling Ukraine’s attack last year, the isolated state’s troops are allegedly living in dugouts, fighting—and dying—together with Russian forces.
