Moscow: North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui emphasized the significant elevation in bilateral ties between North Korea and Russia following the recent meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The meeting, as reported by Russian media on Monday, has marked a "new height" in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choe made these remarks during her meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. This meeting referred to the bilateral talks between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin, which took place when both leaders visited Beijing on September 3 to attend a military parade celebrating China's Victory Day. Choe described this meeting as a "significant event" that has raised the strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia.
Choe also reiterated North Korea's support for Russia's policy of maintaining territorial integrity. She is scheduled to meet with President Putin later in the day, as per media reports. Lavrov commented that the relations between Russia and North Korea have gained substantial momentum over the past three and a half months, thanks to agreements made at the leaders' level.
The relationship between North Korea and Russia has been deepening, marked by a mutual defense treaty signed in June of the previous year. Since October of last year, approximately 15,000 North Korean troops have participated in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Lavrov highlighted the historical ties by acknowledging the "heroic deeds" of North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region, which he believes will further cement the friendship between the two countries.
The North Korean state media reported earlier in the day that Choe departed for Moscow as part of a two-nation tour that includes Belarus. Traveling on a private jet, Choe left Pyongyang International Airport the previous day on invitations from the foreign ministers of the respective countries, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The KCNA had initially announced the two-nation trip on Sunday without a detailed itinerary, but later, Russia's foreign ministry specified that Choe's visit would span from Sunday to Tuesday. This trip marks Choe's first visit to Russia in about a year, following her last trip to Moscow in November 2024, where she met with President Putin.
Choe's visit coincides with South Korea's hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from October 31 to November 1 in Gyeongju. Her absence from North Korea during this period indicates that no discussions between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected during the global event. Trump, who departed for an Asia tour over the weekend, including a visit to South Korea for the APEC summit, expressed a desire to meet Kim again. Trump and Kim have previously met three times during Trump's first presidential term, including summits in Singapore in 2018 and Vietnam in 2019.