Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui on Monday.
According to TASS and Sputnik News, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported that Putin welcomed Choe during her working visit to Russia. Footage released by the Kremlin showed Putin greeting Minister Choe warmly, shaking hands, and conversing for about a minute.
Choe expressed gratitude to Putin for the meeting and conveyed deeply sincere, warm, and friendly greetings from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un through an interpreter. Putin noted it was Russia’s National Unity Day, adding that meeting friends on a holiday is a beautiful tradition.
In response to Choe’s greetings, Putin wished the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un well before inviting her to be seated. The meeting included a North Korean official, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov.
On October 29, Peskov stated that Putin had no plans to meet Choe. This surprise meeting could be Putin’s special treatment regarding North Korea’s potential troop deployment.
During her visit, Choe held a strategic dialogue with Lavrov on Friday, pledging North Korea’s support for Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine until the victory day of Russia.
While the Kremlin did not disclose details of Putin and Choe’s conversation, speculation suggests they may have discussed Kim Jong Un’s potential visit to Russia.
Putin invited Kim to Moscow after their June summit in Pyongyang. As expectations of Kim’s possible visit next year are surfacing, the Kremlin also hinted at it. Putin also met Choe at the Kremlin in January. During that meeting, Choe delivered the context of the meeting with Lavrov to Putin, and in June, Putin visited Pyongyang after five months.
The timing of this meeting, showcasing strengthened North Korea-Russia ties, is notable as it occurred just before the U.S. elections. Both sides may have discussed a joint response to the U.S. election outcomes.
Experts note that Putin’s meeting with a visiting foreign minister is uncommon, symbolizing the deepened North Korea-Russia relations amid international concerns over North Korean troop deployments.
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