Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has begun a high-stakes three-day visit to North Korea, underscoring deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang amid the Ukraine war. Lavrov praised the “invincible brotherhood” between the nations during talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in Wonsan. Notably, North Korea had deployed troops to aid Russian forces in repelling Ukraine’s invasion of the Kursk region in 2024.
Lavrov specifically commended the sacrifices of the Korean People’s Army in retaking Sudzha and surrounding villages from what he called “Ukrainian Nazis.” With Kyiv’s offensive now crushed, North Korea is sending more troops for reconstruction efforts in Kursk. Lavrov’s visit signals Russia’s growing pivot towards pariah states as it faces Western isolation. Shoigu confirmed 6,000 North Korean troops would aid with demining and engineering.
