Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn attention by positioning himself as a potential inter-Korean messenger ahead of his summit with Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, in an effort to convey South Korea’s stance.
On Wednesday, President Putin met with Woo Won-sik, the Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly, who represented South Korea at a reception marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day (celebrating the victory in the anti-Japanese war and World War II) held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.
According to the Speaker’s office, President Putin expressed a particular interest in inter-Korean relations and issues on the Korean Peninsula during their meeting. He specifically asked Speaker Woo about what message he should convey to General Secretary Kim during the North Korea-Russia summit, and how Speaker Woo views inter-Korean relations.
In response, Speaker Woo expressed his hope that the two Koreas will usher in an era of peace and prosperity, adding that establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula is extremely important, even amidst various challenges, and he will strive for it, as reported by his office.
After the reception, President Putin traveled to the meeting venue with General Secretary Kim in a private limousine known as the Aurus.
The two leaders held discussions for two and a half hours, during which President Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea’s troop deployment in the Ukraine war, while General Secretary Kim emphasized the significance of the North Korea-Russia alliance, referring to it as a brotherly duty.
However, it remains unclear whether President Putin actually conveyed Speaker Woo’s message to General Secretary Kim during this meeting. Neither the Kremlin nor North Korean officials have mentioned whether issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula were addressed during the talks.
Putin, Did He Convey South Korea’s Message to Kim… Attention Now Turns to the Realization of Inter-Korean Indirect Communication
In diplomatic circles, if inter-Korean relations were as amicable as they once were and communication channels remained active, they might not have attached much significance to President Putin’s spontaneous proposal. However, the current situation is different, as North Korea adheres to a two-state theory and downplays the significance of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s conciliatory gestures toward the North.
Notably, Speaker Woo reportedly shook hands with General Secretary Kim in the waiting room before observing a military parade at Tiananmen Square on the same day. However, it appears that no meaningful exchange of messages took place.
In this context, if President Putin conveys Speaker Woo’s message to General Secretary Kim and South Korea eventually receives Kim’s response, that alone would hold significance, according to analysts.
Although Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party, and others have recently issued criticisms against South Korea, the ultimate decision-making power rests with the Supreme Leader, given the nature of the North Korean regime.
Relations between Russia and South Korea have cooled significantly since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022. South Korea joined the Western sanctions against Russia, prompting Russia to designate South Korea as an unfriendly nation.
Last year, following President Putin’s visit to North Korea, Russia restored its alliance with North Korea by signing a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that included provisions for automatic military intervention in case of emergency, which later led to the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
Despite this turbulence, diplomatic channels and behind-the-scenes communications between Russia and South Korea have continued. Analysts suggest that Russia has shown at least a minimal willingness to manage and engage with neighboring countries, keeping in mind the situation following the conclusion of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Professor Park Won-gon from Ewha Womans University noted that if General Secretary Kim orders not to engage with South Korea while having a meaningful conversation with Speaker Woo, it would be contradictory. President Putin has skillfully seized that opportunity, utilizing his influence to draw South Korea closer to Russia amidst a situation of diplomatic isolation.