Putin’s Top Security Adviser Visits North Korea to Strengthen Military Ties

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s top security adviser, visits North Korea to strengthen security ties and meet Kim Jong Un as both nations enhance military cooperation amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly in relation to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top security adviser, Sergei Shoigu, has recently arrived in North Korea to discuss security matters with its leader, Kim Jong Un. This visit highlights the strengthening security relations between Russia and North Korea, with particular focus on military cooperation amidst international tensions. The TASS news agency reported the arrival but did not elaborate further, and North Korean state media did not cover the event.

Formerly Russia’s defense minister and currently the secretary of the Security Council, Mr. Shoigu had previously traveled to Pyongyang as North Korea prepared to potentially send troops to assist Russia in its conflict in Ukraine. Both American and South Korean intelligence sources allege that North Korea has dispatched nearly 11,000 soldiers to engage in military actions in Russia’s Kursk region, alongside providing heavy artillery and ballistic missiles.

The Russian forces have been combating incursions in the region since last August and are reportedly on the verge of regaining control. In exchange for support, North Korea is believed to have received military technology, along with civilian aid and economic assistance from Moscow. Although neither nation has officially acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops and weaponry in Ukraine, they maintain a strategic partnership treaty established in June 2024, which includes a mutual defense agreement obligating both countries to assist one another in case of an attack.

The visit of Sergei Shoigu to North Korea underscores the growing military collaboration between the two countries, particularly in the context of ongoing international conflicts. With North Korea allegedly supplying military personnel and equipment to Russia while receiving technological and economic assistance in return, the strategic partnership established in their treaty reflects a critical defense relationship. The evolving dynamics warrant close attention from global observers as geopolitical tensions persist.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk