North Korea's Top Diplomat Visits Russia Amid Speculation of Kim Jong Un's Trip

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has arrived in Russia for an official visit, fueling speculation that the trip could be a prelude to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's potential visit to Moscow.

This marks Choe's first visit to Russia in approximately nine months. The timing of her trip comes as the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, raising the possibility of discussions aimed at strengthening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, potentially including arrangements for Kim Jong Un's visit.

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Our government is pursuing cooperation with various countries and international organizations, including NATO, based on the principle of national interest-oriented practical diplomacy.

Both the Russian Foreign Ministry and North Korea's Korean Central News Agency confirmed Choe's arrival. While specific itineraries and agendas were not disclosed, Choe previously made a working visit to Russia in late October last year. This visit is also viewed in the context of recent high-level exchanges between North Korea and China, following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang last month.

Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions persist between South Korea and Russia. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko recently expressed concern to the South Korean ambassador in Moscow regarding Seoul's deepening cooperation with NATO. The South Korean Foreign Ministry responded by stating that its cooperation with NATO, as well as other international organizations, is based on national interests and aims to enhance mutual capabilities in areas like defense, new technologies, and cybersecurity to bolster international peace and stability.

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Cooperation between us and NATO is aimed at strengthening each other's capabilities in various fields such as defense, new technologies, and cybersecurity, and strengthening our respective roles and contributions to international peace and stability.