Sergei Shoigu, Putin’s top security adviser, has visited North Korea to engage with Kim Jong Un, signaling increased military collaboration between Russia and North Korea. Reports indicate North Korea may have deployed thousands of troops to support Russia against Ukraine. Both nations reaffirm their mutual defense treaty, enhancing their strategic partnership.
Sergei Shoigu, the chief security adviser to President Vladimir Putin, has arrived in North Korea for discussions with leader Kim Jong Un, marking a significant development in the enhanced security relations between the two nations. Reported by the TASS news agency, details surrounding his visit remain scarce, as neither North Korean media nor the Russian report elaborated on the agenda or implications of his arrival.
Previously serving as Russia’s defense minister, Mr. Shoigu is now the secretary of the Security Council and has visited Pyongyang on several occasions. During these visits, it has been suggested that North Korea was preparing to send troops to support Russia in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Notably, U.S. and South Korean intelligence have reported that almost 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed into combat within Russia’s Kursk region, alongside shipments of weaponry, including heavy artillery and ballistic missiles.
Since August, Russian forces have been engaged in a defensive posture against Ukrainian advances in the Kursk area. Moreover, it is speculated that North Korea has exchanged military and civilian technologies as well as economic support with Moscow as part of their evolving partnership. Despite the growing military collaboration, both Pyongyang and Moscow have not confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops or weaponry in Ukraine but have reiterated their commitment to a strategic partnership established under a defense treaty signed in June 2024.
This treaty ensures mutual defense, obligating each state to assist the other in the event of an attack, solidifying the security alliance between North Korea and Russia in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
The visit of Sergei Shoigu to North Korea underscores the strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea, particularly in military cooperation. As both nations operate under a mutual defense treaty, the potential ramifications of their alliance on regional stability and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine warrant close observation. The strategic partnership is characterized by military support and technology exchange, reflecting a coordinated approach amidst escalating tensions in the region.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
