North Korea and Russia are poised to accelerate high-level exchanges from late April to early May. Some analysts are even speculating about the possibility of Kim Jong Un visiting Russia.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, reported on Tuesday that a delegation led by Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Russia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, arrived in Pyongyang on Monday. This visit, at the invitation of North Korea’s social safety authorities, aims to discuss cooperation in law enforcement. While the Rodong Sinmun did not disclose specific details, Russian state news agency TASS quoted Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk as saying that the two countries will discuss law enforcement cooperation through several meetings.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea and Russia have swiftly expanded their multifaceted cooperation, including arms trading and the deployment of North Korean troops. High-level exchanges, including two summits, have also been frequent.
In late 2024, North Korea reportedly sent nearly 20,000 troops to the Kursk region, where intense fighting between Ukraine and Russia was ongoing, to support Russia. Last April, North Korea declared victory, claiming that the Kursk region had been liberated.
To mark the first anniversary of the liberation of Kursk at the end of this month, North Korea plans to hold large-scale celebrations, including the inauguration of a memorial to honor the deployed troops. Following the Interior Minister’s visit, there is speculation that either the Russian Foreign Minister or Defense Minister might visit North Korea, or that senior North Korean officials could travel to Russia to commemorate the victory in Kursk. Government sources indicate a high likelihood of a senior Russian defense official visiting North Korea.
There is also speculation about Kim potentially visiting Russia ahead of Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, which commemorates the end of World War II. If he attends the Victory Day event, it could serve as a platform for North Korea and Russia to publicly showcase their strong alliance.
Kim Jong Un Heading to Russia Ahead of U.S.–China Summit?… North Korea Signals Rejection of Talks with U.S.
Analysts suggest that if Kim travels to Russia just before President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in Beijing on May 14, it could send a diplomatic message regarding North Korea’s stance on U.S.-North Korea talks. They propose that he might choose to visit Russia to explicitly rebuff Trump’s overtures for dialogue.
If a summit between North Korea and Russia takes place to promote their close ties, it may be challenging for North Korea to engage substantively with other issues before and after the summit. This could be interpreted as a clear signal to the international community, including South Korea, that North Korea is not interested in U.S.-North Korea dialogue.
Professor Park Won-gon from Ewha Womans University stated that given the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, it’s unlikely that Trump is prepared for a U.S.-North Korea summit, and Kim won’t engage in talks without favorable conditions, effectively ruling out the possibility of resuming U.S.-North Korea dialogue at this time.
He added that the impact of the Middle East conflict is significant, so Kim needs to solidify relations with Russia and China first, explaining that Kim intends to establish alliances and secure support before confronting the U.S.