North Korean Foreign Minister Visits Moscow as Troops Head to Ukraine

In a sign of deepening relations between North Korea and its ally Russia, Pyongyang said on Tuesday its Foreign Minister is visiting Moscow.

North Korea did not specify the purpose of the trip amid Western concerns about thousands of North Korean troops being sent to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, however the state-run Korean Central News Agency said the delegation led by Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui departed for Russia on Monday.

Why Is North Korea Meeting in Moscow?

In a closed-door hearing at South Korea’s Parliament, the country’s spy agency suggested that North Korean official Choe may be engaged in high-level talks about dispatching additional troops to Russia and negotiating what support North Korea would receive from Russia in return, according to lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, who was present at the meeting.

The announcement of Choe’s visit followed closely after the Pentagon revealed that North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 troops to Russia, with expectations that they will arrive on Ukrainian battlefields within “the next several weeks.”

What Is North Korea Doing in Ukraine?

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh informed reporters on Monday that some North Korean soldiers have already moved closer to Ukraine and are believed to be heading toward Russia’s Kursk border region, where Russian forces have been struggling to repel a Ukrainian incursion.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service informed lawmakers that it is investigating the possibility that some North Korean military personnel in Russia, including generals or other high-ranking officials, may have already moved to front line areas.

The agency also noted that North Korea and Russia appear to be facing communication challenges, although Russian forces are training North Korean troops in Russian military terminology, according to Seong-kweun.

The National Intelligence Service reported that North Korea is likely receiving Russian assistance in space-based reconnaissance. According to lawmaker Park Sun-won, who attended the hearing, the agency indicated that North Korea may be acquiring advanced components from Russia while it prepares for another attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite, following a failed launch in May.

North Korea launched its first spy satellite into orbit last November, a move leader Kim Jong Un has deemed essential for tracking South Korean and U.S. military activities. He views these assets while vital for bolstering the threat posed by his nuclear-capable missiles.

What Does Russia Say About Accepting North Korea’s Help?

After initially denying reports of North Korean troop deployments, Pyongyang and Moscow have shifted to a more ambiguous position, stating that their military cooperation complies with international law, though neither has directly acknowledged the presence of North Korean forces in Russia.

North Korea has also been accused of supplying millions of artillery shells and other military equipment to Russia to support its war in Ukraine. The United States and its allies have condemned Russia’s procurement of North Korean personnel and supplies, expressing concerns that Moscow may be aiding Pyongyang in evading sanctions and illicitly funding its weapons program.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press