Sergei Shoigu’s Visit to North Korea: Strengthening Security Ties

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s top security adviser, has arrived in North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un amid escalating security ties. The visit underscores the mutual defense pact between the two nations, coinciding with North Korean troop deployments supporting Russia in the Ukraine conflict. While no official acknowledgment has been made about the military assistance, both countries continue to enhance their strategic partnership.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top security adviser, Sergei Shoigu, has arrived in North Korea, where he is set to meet with leader Kim Jong Un. This visit marks a significant step in the evolving security relations between Russia and North Korea, according to a report from TASS. However, there has been no additional information provided regarding the agenda of the meeting, nor has North Korean state media acknowledged Shoigu’s arrival.

Sergei Shoigu, who served as Russia’s defense minister until May and is now the secretary of the Security Council, had previously visited Pyongyang as North Korea prepared to deploy troops to support Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. American and South Korean officials estimate that nearly 11,000 North Korean troops have been sent to combat in Russia’s Kursk region, which is currently under threat from Ukrainian forces.

In addition to troop deployments, North Korea is believed to have sent heavy weapons, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to Russia. Russian forces have been engaged in efforts to repel Ukrainian advances in Kursk since August and are close to reclaiming control over the area.

In exchange for military support, North Korea is thought to have received military and civilian technologies alongside economic assistance from Russia. However, neither country has officially confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops or weapons within the Ukraine conflict. Both Moscow and Pyongyang continue to uphold a strategic partnership treaty established by President Putin and Kim Jong Un in June 2024, which includes a mutual defense pact necessitating support in the event of an attack on either nation.

The visit of Sergei Shoigu to North Korea signals a strengthening of security ties between Russia and North Korea, particularly in light of troop deployments and military assistance amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The mutual defense pact reaffirmed by both nations further deepens their strategic partnership, particularly as they face challenges in regional security.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk