Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin, is set to visit North Korea on Friday to attend the 80th anniversary celebration of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s founding.
On Monday, the Korean Central News Agency announced that at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a delegation from the Russian political party United Russia, led by Chairman Medvedev, will visit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to participate in the 80th anniversary festivities of the Workers’ Party.
This high-level Russian delegation’s visit comes approximately two months after another Putin ally, Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, traveled to North Korea to attend the 80th Liberation Day anniversary in August.
Medvedev served as President from 2008 to 2012, succeeding Putin. He effectively acted as Putin’s proxy during the latter’s tenure as Prime Minister when term limits prevented a third consecutive presidential term. Following Putin’s return to the presidency in 2012, Medvedev was appointed Prime Minister, a position he held until 2020.
Friday marks the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s establishment, a milestone North Korea considers highly significant as it falls on a major anniversary (occurring every 5 or 10 years). Consequently, grand celebrations, including an extensive military parade, are anticipated.
Among foreign dignitaries, confirmed attendees thus far include Thongloun Sisoulith, President of Laos; Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam; and Chairman Medvedev.