North Korea Delays Putin Meeting Report—What’s the Real Reason?

On Wednesday, Rodong Sinmun reported that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Monday. According to the report, Choe conveyed warm, comradely greetings from Kim Jong Un to Putin, who reciprocated by asking her to extend his regards to the North Korean leader.

The newspaper detailed that their meeting focused on productive discussions to further bilateral relations, marking a new phase of comprehensive development in North Korea-Russia ties. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening this alliance.

Professor Yang Moo Jin of the University of North Korean Studies commented on the significance of the meeting, noting that it underscored both nations’ intent to advance their cooperation under the recent North Korea-Russia treaty. He suggested that Choe may have served as an informal special envoy, facilitating communication between Kim Jong Un and Putin in her role as Foreign Minister.

Yang also observed North Korea’s delay in reporting on the meeting, interpreting it as a sign of Pyongyang’s careful consideration of the meeting’s results, particularly the absence of any mention of a forthcoming visit by Kim Jong Un to Russia. Yang further anticipated that implementing the treaty’s provisions would likely gain momentum following this high-level exchange.