North Korea has reaffirmed its support for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine following high-level talks between the foreign ministers of both countries in Moscow, further strengthening growing military and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The renewed commitment was disclosed on Tuesday by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which reported that Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui held discussions with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
According to KCNA, both sides reaffirmed their determination to deepen long-term cooperation across multiple sectors while strengthening bilateral relations.
The report stated that the meeting underscored the shared commitment of Pyongyang and Moscow to expand political, economic and strategic collaboration.
“The DPRK side expressed invariable support for all the internal and external policies of the Russian Federation to eliminate the root cause of the Ukrainian dispute and defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international justice,” KCNA reported.
In response, Russia reiterated its support for North Korea’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity.
Relations between Russia and North Korea have grown significantly since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Western governments and intelligence agencies have repeatedly accused Pyongyang of supplying weapons, ammunition and troops to support Russia’s military operations, allegations both countries have largely dismissed or declined to comment on publicly.
Analysts believe North Korea has benefited from the partnership through financial assistance, food supplies, energy support and military technology transfers from Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in remarks released by the Kremlin on Sunday, thanked North Korea for its continued support.
“I would like once again to express my gratitude for the support provided to the special military operation we are conducting,” Putin said.
During her visit, Choe also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin, according to KCNA.
The latest diplomatic engagement has fuelled speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could soon visit Russia.
Kim last travelled to Russia in September 2023, while President Putin paid a rare state visit to Pyongyang in June 2024, where both leaders signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.
South Korean media have suggested that Choe’s visit may have included discussions on preparations for a possible visit by Kim to Russia later this year.
Professor Park Won-gon, an expert on North Korean affairs at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said such a visit would reinforce the growing relationship between the two countries.
“Putin has repeatedly invited Kim to visit Russia since his trip to Pyongyang in 2024,” Park said.
The development also comes barely a month after Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to North Korea, during which he and Kim pledged to further strengthen relations between Beijing and Pyongyang.
Despite North Korea’s closer military cooperation with Russia, China remains its largest trading partner.
Official figures indicate that China accounted for nearly 98 per cent of North Korea’s foreign trade in 2024.
According to Park, a visit to Moscow after hosting Xi Jinping would reinforce Pyongyang’s diplomatic position.
“After hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping this year, Kim would have a strong incentive to visit Russia as well,” he said.
“It would showcase North Korea breaking out of diplomatic isolation while highlighting support from both China and Russia, reinforcing the image of a North Korea-China-Russia alignment.”
