Russian President Vladimir Putin met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the Kremlin on Sunday, using the meeting to thank Pyongyang for its support in what Moscow describes as its “special military operation,” according to the Kremlin.
The meeting highlighted the growing partnership between Russia and North Korea, which has strengthened since the two countries formalized a mutual defence pact. Under that agreement, North Korea deployed approximately 14,000 soldiers to assist Russian forces in the western Kursk region after a major Ukrainian cross-border offensive in 2024.
According to the Kremlin, Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea’s assistance during the conflict. North Korean troops played a role in helping Russia repel the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces crossed the border in August 2024 and maintained control of significant pockets of territory for several months.
The deployment of North Korean personnel marked a significant expansion of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang under the terms of their defence agreement. The troops were sent to fight alongside Russian forces as Moscow sought to regain control of territory captured during Ukraine’s offensive.
During Sunday’s meeting, Choe conveyed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties. According to the Kremlin, she said Kim had recently reaffirmed North Korea’s dedication to the comprehensive development of relations with the Russian Federation.
The Kremlin presented the discussions as part of the continuing implementation of the two countries’ strategic partnership, with both sides emphasizing closer political and military cooperation.
The meeting comes as Russia and North Korea continue to deepen diplomatic and defence relations following the signing of their mutual defence pact, with military collaboration becoming an increasingly prominent feature of the partnership since North Korean forces were deployed to support Russian operations in the Kursk region.
