Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s security adviser, visits North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un, advancing security ties amid the Ukraine conflict. North Korea is allegedly deploying troops and supplying arms to Russia. Both nations maintain a mutual defense pact established in June 2024, strengthening their strategic partnership.
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s top security adviser and former defense minister, arrived in North Korea for talks with leader Kim Jong Un, according to the TASS news agency. This visit highlights the strengthening of security ties between the two nations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Details surrounding Shoigu’s visit remain scarce, as North Korean state media did not cover his arrival.
Shoigu’s previous visits to Pyongyang coincided with North Korea’s preparations to send soldiers to support Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. U.S. and South Korean officials report that North Korea has deployed approximately 11,000 troops in the Kursk region, alongside heavy military supplies, including artillery and ballistic missiles.
Russian forces are currently engaged in repelling incursions by Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region, with efforts underway to regain control of the area, which has been under threat since August. In this context, North Korea is purported to be receiving military and civilian technology, as well as economic support from Russia in exchange for its assistance.
While neither country has confirmed the specific deployment of troops or weapons in the conflict, they have emphasized the continued implementation of a strategic partnership treaty established by Presidents Putin and Kim in June 2024. This treaty entails a mutual defense pact, obligating each nation to assist the other if attacked.
The arrival of Sergei Shoigu in North Korea underscores the emerging military alliance between Russia and North Korea. With both nations engaged in a strategic partnership that focuses on mutual defense and military cooperation, the geopolitical landscape is shifting. As North Korea’s potential troop deployments and arms supplies become integral to Russia’s military efforts, the implications for regional stability and international relations necessitate closer scrutiny.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
