Sergei Shoigu, Putin’s security adviser, visits North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un. This meeting highlights advancing security ties amid North Korea’s alleged troop deployments to support Russia in Ukraine. Neither country confirmed military activities, yet they continue to implement a mutual defense pact established in June 2024.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top security adviser, Sergei Shoigu, has arrived in North Korea and is scheduled to meet with its leader, Kim Jong Un. This visit signifies the strengthening of security ties between Russia and North Korea, highlighted by a previous report from TASS on Friday. However, specific details regarding this visit were not disclosed, and North Korean state media has yet to announce Mr. Shoigu’s arrival.
Sergei Shoigu, who served as Russia’s defense minister until May and was appointed secretary of the Security Council thereafter, has made prior visits to Pyongyang. These trips coincide with allegations that North Korea is preparing to send soldiers to support Russia in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. American and South Korean intelligence suggests that North Korea has dispatched approximately 11,000 troops, with these forces reportedly engaged in combat in Russia’s Kursk region, alongside shipping substantial military assets like artillery and ballistic missiles.
Russian military operations in Kursk have been ongoing since August, countering Ukrainian advances. It is believed North Korea has benefited from Moscow through military and civilian technological exchanges, as well as economic support, in return for this military assistance. While neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have confirmed the deployment of troops or military hardware in Ukraine, both nations continue to uphold the strategic partnership treaty they signed in June 2024, which includes provisions for mutual defense in case of an attack.
In conclusion, Sergei Shoigu’s arrival in North Korea underscores the growing security collaboration between Russia and North Korea, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The information regarding troop deployments and military aid furthers concern among Western nations while both countries pursue a mutual defense strategy under a formal treaty. The evolving dynamics reflect significant geopolitical developments in the region.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
