With North Korean troops now deployed to the Russia-Ukraine front, the foreign ministers of Russia and North Korea are expected to discuss strategies regarding this troop deployment soon.
North Korea’s state-run media, the Korean Central News Agency, reported on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui left Pyongyang on Monday for her official visit to Russia.
Alexander Matsegora, the Russian Ambassador to North Korea, bid Choe and her delegation farewell at Pyongyang International Airport.
This visit comes six weeks after Choe attended an international event in St. Petersburg last month.
The Russian Embassy in North Korea announced Choe’s official visit on social media, explaining that this trip falls within the strategic dialogue framework between Russia and North Korea. During the June summit, both sides agreed to enhance strategic dialogue across various areas, including diplomacy, defense, and economics.
The Russian Embassy stated, “In accordance with the spirit and form of the new treaty signed at that time, both nations will regularly engage in in-depth consultations on bilateral relations and international political issues, not only at high diplomatic levels but also among deputy foreign ministers and heads of subordinate units.”
While North Korea has not specified the agenda for this visit, discussions regarding Kim Jong Un’s potential trip to Russia are also likely.
The international community, including South Korea and the U.S., has formalized its response to North Korean troop deployments, so diplomatic and military consultations may also be discussed during the visit.
Experts predict that further discussions regarding the troop deployment are forthcoming.
Professor Yang Moo Jin from the University of North Korean Studies noted, “Considering public opinion trends, there is a possibility North Korea will request that deployed troops refrain from participating in frontline combat initially.” He further added that North Korea might also seek documentation regarding compensation for the troop deployment.
Speculation has arisen that North Korea may request Russia to prevent additional UN Security Council sanctions against them.
Given that Russia emphasizes the legitimacy of North Korean troop deployment under the new treaty, North Korea’s request for “Security Council protection” will likely be accepted.
On Monday, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, stated that Western soldiers have been operating in Ukraine for a long time and asserted that this is a legitimate action.
Lavrov referred to the new Russia-North Korea treaty, emphasizing the legitimacy of the deployments. He stressed, “We have repeatedly stated that this does not violate international law provisions, as the treaty stipulates mutual support if one of the participating countries comes under military attack.”
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