North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The two officials discussed the implementation of a strategic partnership treaty signed in 2024, as Pyongyang reaffirmed its support for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine and the deepening of bilateral ties. The meeting at the Kremlin included high-level Russian officials, specifically Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Aide to the President Yuri Ushakov.
President Vladimir Putin and Choe Son Hui Discuss 2024 Strategic Partnership Treaty
Strategic Alignment in Moscow
The visit by Choe Son Hui to Moscow marks a continuation of high-level diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. The visit occurred without an obvious occasion, such as a state anniversary or multilateral diplomatic event. During their meeting, President Vladimir Putin praised the current trajectory of bilateral relations and reiterated his gratitude to the North Korean leadership and people
for supporting his military operations against Ukraine. According to Russian state media, Putin emphasized that the combat feats of the Korean servicemen, who helped the Russian military and were decorated with state awards, will always be remembered in Russia.
This diplomatic engagement follows the signing of a strategic partnership agreement in June 2024, where leaders pledged mutual aid if either country faces aggression. According to Reuters, the foreign ministers held their third strategic dialogue on Monday, reaching a consensus on all discussed issues. The talks focused specifically on the implementation of the 2024 treaty, with Russia formally declaring its support for North Korea’s measures to counter what North Korean state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), described as “hostile acts” threatening its position, right to development, sovereign rights, and security interests.
North Korean Soldiers Deployed to the Kursk Region to Support Russian War Efforts
Mutuality in the Ukraine Conflict
The relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow has moved beyond symbolic gestures. North Korea has provided substantial support for Russia’s war efforts, including the deployment of an estimated 14,000 soldiers to assist in repelling a major Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region that began in 2024. North Korea has also provided huge supplies of weapons to support the Russian military.
“The combat feats of the Korean servicemen, who helped the Russian military and were decorated with state awards, will always be remembered in Russia.” Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
During the meetings, Choe Son Hui reaffirmed that North Korea remains committed to the comprehensive development
of relations with Russia, citing recent instructions from leader Kim Jong Un. Choe described these ties as a strategic priority
for Pyongyang. North Korea expressed invariable support
for Russian policies aimed at eliminating what it called the “root cause” of the conflict in Ukraine and defending Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Moscow maintains that its 2022 invasion is a response to NATO expansion and threats to Russian speakers, a claim rejected by Kyiv and its allies as a pretext for an unprovoked war.
Yoon Min Ho of South Korea’s Unification Ministry Monitors Potential Kim Jong Un Visit
Regional Implications and Future Summits
The visit has sparked international speculation regarding the potential for another summit between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. Putin invited Kim to visit Russia again during their summit in Pyongyang in June 2024. While neither government has confirmed a date, the high-level coordination between Choe and Russian officials suggests the possibility is being actively discussed. Yoon Min Ho, spokesperson for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles affairs related to North Korea, stated that Seoul was closely monitoring the meetings but declined to assess whether Moscow and Pyongyang were discussing another summit between their leaders.
Foreign Ministers Plan Future Diplomatic Coordination Following Choe Son Hui’s October Visit
The foreign ministers also discussed plans for future cooperation and diplomatic coordination on major international issues. Choe Son Hui last visited Russia and met with President Putin in October. As Kim Jong Un has made Russia the priority of his foreign policy in recent years, the current diplomatic trajectory remains focused on the strategic partnership signed in 2024, which serves as the framework for military and diplomatic cooperation between the two states.
