In a significant development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss military issues and the regional security environment. The meeting took place on Wednesday in Pyongyang, and both sides reached a consensus on matters concerning national defense and security, as well as regional and international security.
During the meeting, Shoigu presented a warm and positive letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim. The details of the military matters discussed were not specified in the report. However, it is known that North Korea has been aligning itself with Russia over the war in Ukraine, asserting that Western countries’ hegemonic policies forced Russia to take military action to protect its security interests.
It should be noted that the Biden administration has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia to aid its fighting in Ukraine, although North Korea denies this claim. The meeting between Kim and Shoigu is expected to further enhance strategic and tactical collaboration and cooperation between the two countries in the field of national defense and security.
In a rare diplomatic opening during the pandemic, North Korea invited delegations from Russia and China to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War. This truce, although leaving the Korean Peninsula technically in a state of war, is viewed as a victory in the “Grand Fatherland Liberation War” by North Korea.
During the visit, Kim took Shoigu to an arms exhibition showcasing North Korea’s latest weapons and briefed him on plans to expand the country’s military capabilities. The exhibition photos and videos released by state media showed Kim and Shoigu inspecting intercontinental ballistic missiles and possibly new surveillance and attack drones.
While South Korea’s military is analyzing the assets displayed, it is believed that Putin’s outreach to other countries for support in fighting the war in Ukraine may have been a topic of discussion. North Korea’s celebrations are expected to conclude with a military parade in Pyongyang, where Kim may display the country’s nuclear-capable missiles.
Some experts suggest that North Korea sees an opportunity to break out of diplomatic isolation by aligning with China and Russia against the United States. Both China and Russia have been undermining US efforts to strengthen UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea.
It is important to note that the last time North Korea invited foreign government delegates for a military parade was in 2018, during a period of diplomacy with South Korea and the United States. However, the diplomatic efforts collapsed, leading to a renewed focus on developing North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
In contrast, China has sent a delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a politburo member of the Communist Party, who expressed China’s readiness to promote sound and stable relations with North Korea.
If Kim were to share the stage with Shoigu and Li at the military parade, it would be seen as a significant accomplishment and a statement of defiance against the United States. Russia’s Defense Ministry also confirmed that Shoigu held talks with North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam to strengthen cooperation between their defense departments.
The Korean War, which began with a surprise North Korean attack on the South in 1950, involved support from China and the Soviet Union on the North Korean side, and troops from South Korea, the United States, and other nations under the United Nations on the South Korean side. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol marked the armistice anniversary by visiting a cemetery in Busan that honors the UN troops who died during the war. The South Korean government has been actively working to expand military exercises with the US and increase the deployment of US strategic assets in the region to address the growing threat from North Korea.
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