Putin Hosts North Korean Envoy, Deepens Military Alliance Amid Global Tensions

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on October 27, 2025, cementing the two nations’ rapidly expanding military alliance. The high-profile talks followed last month’s summit between Putin and Kim Jong Un in Beijing during China’s World War II victory parade. Putin praised the “spiritual closeness” between Moscow and Pyongyang, asking Choe to convey his warm regards to Kim and noting their relationship is “proceeding exactly according to plan.”

In separate discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Choe reaffirmed North Korea’s “unwavering support” for Russia’s war in Ukraine, pledging backing for all actions to “eliminate the root cause” of the conflict. Lavrov hailed North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region as “heroic,” stating their efforts would strengthen “historical unity in the shared struggle for justice.” Both sides committed to deeper high-level exchanges, joint projects, and coordinated diplomacy on major global issues.

The visit unfolds as U.S. President Donald Trump tours Asia, pushing trade deals and alliances that could counter this emerging axis. South Korean intelligence reports that North Korea has deployed around 15,000 troops to Russia since last fall, alongside massive shipments of artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and even construction workers for demining operations in Kursk. In return, Pyongyang seeks advanced Russian technology, including submarine and satellite systems, to bolster its nuclear and missile programs.

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Kim Jong Un has pursued this aggressive alignment since his 2018-2019 nuclear talks with Trump collapsed over U.S. demands for full denuclearization. North Korea has since conducted over 100 missile tests in 2025 alone and rejected dialogue with Washington and Seoul. Last month, Kim signaled openness to new talks, but only if the U.S. drops its denuclearization precondition—a stance reinforced in Choe’s Moscow meetings, where Russia endorsed Pyongyang’s “sovereign rights” and security interests.

The partnership alarms Seoul and Washington, with fears that Russian tech transfers could extend North Korea’s missile range to U.S. territory. NATO has condemned the troop deployments as a dangerous escalation, while the UN continues to enforce arms sanctions Pyongyang routinely violates. As Putin digs in for a long war in Ukraine, Kim’s support provides critical manpower and munitions, reshaping the strategic balance in East Asia amid Trump’s regional diplomatic push.

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