Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Wonsan on Saturday, hailing their nations’ alliance as an “invincible fighting brotherhood” amid growing military cooperation, including North Korean troop deployments to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The high-level talks, described by Moscow as part of an ongoing “strategic dialogue” following President Vladimir Putin’s 2023 visit to Pyongyang, focused on expanding defense ties. Lavrov conveyed Putin’s message seeking more direct contacts between the two leaders, while thanking North Korea for sending troops to support Russian forces.
The meeting comes as both countries upgrade their partnership to include a mutual defense pact. Lavrov confirmed Pyongyang’s “firm support” for Russia’s Ukraine campaign during discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.
Deepening Military Collaboration
South Korean intelligence reports suggest North Korea may deploy additional troops to Russia as early as July, following the dispatch of over 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine’s Kursk region. Pyongyang has also agreed to send 6,000 military engineers to assist with reconstruction in the war-torn area.
Beyond troop deployments, North Korea has emerged as a key arms supplier to Russia, providing munitions that have bolstered Moscow’s war effort. In return, analysts say Russia may be offering technological assistance for North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
Wonsan: A Symbol of Closer Ties
The choice of Wonsan for the meeting carries strategic significance. The coastal city houses missile and naval facilities while also serving as the site of a new seaside resort aimed at attracting Russian tourists. Infrastructure projects, including resumed Moscow-Pyongyang train services and a planned bridge across the Tumen River border, signal deepening economic connectivity.
Lavrov arrived from Malaysia where he attended ASEAN meetings and will next travel to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, underscoring Russia’s diplomatic pivot to Asia amid Western isolation over its Ukraine invasion.
The burgeoning Moscow-Pyongyang axis has raised alarms among Western nations, with the partnership now extending from arms transfers to direct military participation in Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
