MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that his country’s ties with North Korea were developing “as planned” as he hosted North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in the Kremlin, underscoring growing cooperation between the two countries.
Choe passed on “warm wishes” from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after she had earlier hailed the “spiritual closeness” between Moscow and Pyongyang during a meeting with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Footage released by Russian state news agencies showed Putin greeting Choe in the Kremlin. Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov also appeared at the meeting.
The visit is the latest in a flurry of diplomatic exchanges between the two countries and comes just days after Kim pledged to advance military ties with Moscow.
Russia and North Korea, both under extensive Western sanctions, have significantly bolstered ties in recent years, including signing a 2024 defence pact committing each country to provide military support to the other in the event of “aggression”.
Military ties
North Korea, one of the world’s most diplomatically isolated nations, has deepened cooperation with Russia since 2022.
Russia and North Korea signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2024 that obliges either side to provide “military and other assistance” should the other be attacked.
‘Closest comrade’
Russia and North Korea have enjoyed historically close ties since the Soviet era.
The USSR was the first country to recognise North Korea in 1948 and provided military support to Pyongyang during the Korean War.
Kim and Putin have also repeatedly exchanged warm words.
In birthday messages, Kim has referred to Putin as his “closest comrade”.
Trade and tourism
In April, the two countries began constructing the first road bridge between them.
And in July, Russia launched direct commercial flights between Moscow and Pyongyang amid increasing numbers of officials and delegations shuttling between the two capitals.
Earlier this year, North Korea opened a massive tourist zone on its east coast that has welcomed Russian visitors.
