North Korea’s Foreign Minister, Choe Son Hui, made a high-profile visit to Moscow on November 1, where she pledged steadfast support for Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. During discussions with her Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Choe declared that North Korea would “stand firmly alongside our Russian comrades until victory,” underscoring the deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow amid increasing international tensions.
Choe praised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “wise leadership,” expressing confidence that the Russian people and military would ultimately achieve a “great victory in their sacred struggle to protect the sovereign rights and security interests” of their nation. She highlighted that under the direction of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Pyongyang views its alliance with Russia as not merely strategic but as a matter of “invincible military comradeship.” Lavrov echoed her sentiments, noting the “very close ties” between North Korean and Russian militaries, which he said enable both nations to “solve important security tasks together.”
The ministers’ meeting took place at Moscow’s Yaroslavsky railway station, where they unveiled a memorial plaque commemorating North Korea’s founder, Kim Il Sung, and his historic visit to the Soviet Union in 1949. The event, followed by further talks at the Russian Foreign Ministry, emphasized the longstanding historical ties between the two nations, which have evolved into a robust contemporary alliance.
In a parallel demonstration of its military capabilities, North Korea conducted a successful test of its newest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-19, on October 31. The missile, a solid-fuel ICBM with cutting-edge features, reached an unprecedented altitude of 7,687.5 kilometers and flew approximately 1,000 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan. This launch marked North Korea’s first in nearly a year and was carefully timed just ahead of the U.S. presidential election, with analysts viewing it as a signal of Pyongyang’s growing deterrence capabilities and its readiness to counter perceived threats from the United States and its allies.
North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the missile launch, hailing the Hwasong-19 as a testament to North Korea’s “absolute superiority” and “the world’s strongest strategic missile.” The advanced missile, alongside the previously tested Hwasong-18, is expected to play a central role in North Korea’s long-term strategy for national defense and nuclear deterrence, as outlined by the recent Party Congress. Kim emphasized that the test demonstrated North Korea’s resolve to defend its sovereignty and contribute to a “new world of justice” where, according to his statement, “war, hegemony, and injustice are not allowed.”
While Choe and Lavrov refrained from commenting directly on reports by U.S. and South Korean officials that North Korea had sent approximately 10,000 troops to Russia, the statements of solidarity and military alignment made during the Moscow visit added weight to these speculations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when asked about the claims, declined to elaborate, leaving the extent of North Korea’s material support for Russia unclear.
Choe’s visit and North Korea’s missile test underscore a concerted effort by Pyongyang to solidify its alignment with Moscow on the international stage. The recent actions demonstrate North Korea’s commitment to backing Russia’s strategic interests in Ukraine while advancing its own military capabilities. The Hwasong-19 missile launch, coupled with Choe’s assurances of unwavering support, signals North Korea’s intent to assert its role as a formidable ally to Russia, uniting the two nations in a shared posture of defiance against perceived Western encroachment.
