Putin meets Choe Son Hui, stresses Russia-North Korea ties

2026-07-19

Putin meets North Korean foreign minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Moscow on the 19th. Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine and stressed the unity of the two countries.

Possible talks on Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia

When Putin met North Korean General Secretary Kim Jong Un in Beijing in September 2025, he conveyed an invitation to Russia. At this meeting, the two sides may have discussed the timing of Kim's visit to Russia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and others were also present.

Expand high-level exchanges

According to Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin praised bilateral ties at the start of the meeting and said he wanted to 'once again express gratitude' for North Korea's sending of soldiers to the operation to retake Russia's western Kursk region, which was struck in a cross-border attack by Ukrainian forces.

Russia and North Korea have stepped up high-level exchanges. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and others attended the completion ceremony in April 2026 for a memorial hall opened by North Korea to honor the achievements of troops sent to Russia.

The two countries signed the 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty' in June 2024. It includes provisions similar to the clauses that formed the basis of military alliances during the Cold War, putting the two countries in a de facto alliance. There is also a view that Russia is providing missile and other technology in return for North Korea's troop deployment.

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