Putin’s Adviser Visits North Korea, Signaling Security Alliance Advances

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s top security adviser, visits North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un, amid rising security collaboration. Reports suggest North Korea has supported Russia’s Ukraine efforts by sending troops and weapons. Both nations maintain a defense pact obligating mutual assistance in attacks, strengthening their strategic partnership.

Sergei Shoigu, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top security adviser, has arrived in North Korea for discussions with leader Kim Jong Un. This visit marks a significant moment in the strengthening of security ties between North Korea and Russia, according to TASS news agency. However, details of Shoigu’s arrival have not been reported by North Korea’s media outlets.

Prior to this visit, Shoigu had served as Russia’s defense minister and then as secretary of the Security Council. His recent trips to Pyongyang coincided with reports that North Korea was preparing to send soldiers to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. U.S. and South Korean officials assert that North Korea may have dispatched nearly 11,000 troops to engage in combat in Russia’s Kursk region, alongside shipments of heavy weaponry like artillery and ballistic missiles.

The Russian military has faced challenges in Kursk since last August but is reportedly nearing a significant tactical advantage. In exchange for military support, North Korea is suspected to have received technology and economic assistance from Russia. Both nations have not officially commented on the troop deployment or weaponry support in the Ukraine conflict; however, they continue to reinforce a strategic partnership established by Putin and Kim in June 2024, which includes a mutual defense agreement.

This defense pact mandates mutual support in the event of attacks, reinforcing the burgeoning military and security relationship between the two nations amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The tightening security relations between North Korea and Russia are exemplified by Sergei Shoigu’s recent visit. This visit reflects ongoing military collaboration, including troop deployment and weapon supplies in the context of the war in Ukraine. The strategic partnership treaty enhances mutual defense commitment, indicating both countries’ interest in solidifying their alliance despite international scrutiny.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk