North Korean Foreign Minister Visits Moscow for Talks

North Korea's top diplomat, Choe Son Hui, has arrived in Moscow for official talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, state media reported Friday. Choe and her delegation departed Pyongyang on July 18 aboard a personal plane, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

This visit underscores the deepening ties between the two nations, which are key allies. Russia's foreign ministry had previously announced the envoy's trip, highlighting North Korea's role as a staunch supporter of Russia's war in Ukraine. The two countries solidified their defense cooperation with an agreement signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in 2024.

Analysts believe this partnership is mutually beneficial. North Korea has supplied Russia with significant military aid, including missiles, munitions, and thousands of troops, to support its operations in Ukraine. In return, Moscow is reportedly providing the diplomatically isolated North Korea with crucial financial aid, advanced military technology, food, and energy resources.

The strengthening relationship has drawn criticism from South Korea and the European Union. However, North Korea's foreign ministry has defended its cooperation with Russia as a legitimate "exercise of sovereign rights."

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cooperation with Russia is an exercise of sovereign rights