MOSCOW – North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is set to engage in strategic talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, as confirmed by Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. The visit follows agreements made during the Russia-North Korea summit in Pyongyang last June, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced.
Choe’s trip marks her second visit to Russia within six weeks, underscoring deepening ties between the two nations amid ongoing global scrutiny. The talks come at a critical time as both NATO and South Korea express concerns over reports of North Korean troops potentially supporting Russia in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to the Pentagon, North Korean soldiers are already stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, with additional troops anticipated.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin has no planned meeting with Choe, Russian officials have reiterated Moscow’s right to expand its relations with Pyongyang, citing a mutual defense agreement established earlier this year. Further details on the strategic discussions, including exact timing, will be released by the Russian Foreign Ministry.