North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu during his visit to Pyongyang, where the two exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other international and regional developments, confirming “complete agreement” on these issues.
According to the Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, “Comrade Kim Jong Un warmly welcomed Comrade Sergei Shoigu, who returned to Pyongyang just over 70 days after his last visit, and held a friendly and trust-based dialogue.”
The paper stated that the two “discussed a series of important matters to strengthen further the special and solid comprehensive strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia, as well as issues of mutual cooperation across various sectors.”
It also reported that “the two leaders broadly exchanged opinions on the evolving situation surrounding the Ukraine conflict and other international and regional issues, and confirmed that their views were in complete agreement.” However, specific details of the discussion were not disclosed.
Kim reportedly said that “North Korea will continue to unconditionally support Russia’s stance and foreign policy on all major international political issues, including the Ukraine matter,” adding that Pyongyang would “responsibly adhere to the clauses of the intergovernmental treaty between the two nations.”
He also expressed his “firm belief and expectation that Russia will surely triumph in its just cause to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests,” the newspaper added.
Furthermore, Rodong Sinmun noted that the talks demonstrated the determination of both nations’ leaderships “to continue expanding and developing the North Korea–Russia relationship into a strong and comprehensive strategic partnership that fully aligns with the interests of both peoples and contributes to the realization of true international justice.”
Previously, Russia’s Security Council issued a statement revealing that Shoigu and Kim had discussed plans for reconstruction in Russia’s Kursk region. While North Korea did not elaborate, it is believed the talks may have involved deploying North Korean troops, who reportedly assisted in recapturing the area, to support postwar rebuilding efforts.
During the meeting, Shoigu expressed “special gratitude from the Russian leadership to the excellent sons of the Korean people” who “fought alongside Russian soldiers in the same trenches during the Kursk operation, defending Russian territory as if it were their homeland.”
The talks likely included exchanges on Russia’s direct negotiations with Ukraine and on the two countries’ respective positions regarding South Korea’s recent presidential election. However, these points were not officially confirmed.
There is also speculation that the meeting may have involved discussions about a future visit to Russia by Kim Jong Un and plans for a North Korea–Russia summit. Last June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang and invited Kim for a return visit.