SEOUL – Russian President Vladimir Putin met with senior North Korean official Ri Hi Yong in Moscow on Thursday, underscoring the deepening cooperation between the two nations, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday.
Ri, a key Politburo member and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), held discussions with Putin at the Kremlin. The Russian leader expressed appreciation for North Korea’s unwavering support of Russia, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. KCNA emphasized that Putin acknowledged the “historic significance” of 2024 as a milestone in Russia-DPRK relations, referring to the two countries’ newly elevated Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The partnership treaty, which includes a mutual defense clause for military assistance in the event of an attack, officially came into force in December following an exchange of ratification documents in Moscow. The agreement was originally signed during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June, where he held a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Reports from Ukrainian, U.S., and South Korean sources have alleged that North Korea has sent thousands of troops to assist Russian forces in Ukraine. While neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has confirmed such claims, the latest meeting signals continued military and diplomatic alignment between the two nations.