Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian National Security Council, has arrived in North Korea and is expected to meet with the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Some observers speculate the meeting may be aimed at discussing a possible visit by Kim to Russia later this month.
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Shoigu landed in Pyongyang on Wednesday and is scheduled to meet Kim on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The talks are expected to cover the implementation of specific provisions of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between the two nations, as well as reports concerning North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region.
There is also speculation that the leaders may finalize arrangements for a summit between North Korea and Russia. President Putin visited Pyongyang last June and invited Kim to make a reciprocal visit.
With June 19 marking the first anniversary of the new bilateral treaty, some analysts suggest Kim could make a surprise trip to Russia around that time.
Russia has previously announced that Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma and a close ally of Putin, will attend celebrations in Pyongyang in August marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council and leader of the ruling United Russia party, is also expected to visit Pyongyang in October for the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party.
Given these separate visits, Kim’s potential trip to Russia is expected to occur on a different schedule.
This marks Shoigu’s second visit to North Korea this year. During his previous trip on March 21, he met with Kim for about two hours, delivering a personal message from President Putin and serving as a key envoy between the two leaders.