A video released by the Kremlin shows Vladimir Putin, smiling, shaking hands and chatting with Choe Son Hui in the presence of his Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and his adviser Yuri Ushakov. “I have the honor to convey to you very sincere, warm and friendly greetings” from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Choe Son Hui said, according to a translation of his remarks by an interpreter present during the meeting.
War in Ukraine: what can North Korea bring to Russia?
The sending of 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean soldiers to Russia raises questions. Without experience of high-intensity warfare, and not speaking the same language, their possible military added value in Ukraine remains to be demonstrated. On the other hand, this contingent would have much more to learn from the Russians. Decryption
Vladimir Putin stressed that “meeting friends on holidays is a very good tradition”, November 4 being the Day of National Unity in Russia, a public holiday. On Friday, Choe Son Hui, on a several-day visit to Russia, had already met his counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.
Mutual Defense Agreement
“There is no doubt that […] the Russian army and people will achieve a great victory” in Ukraine, Choe Son Hui declared during this meeting. Sergei Lavrov welcomed the “very close contacts […] established between the military and security services” of the two countries and expressed Moscow’s “gratitude” “for the principled position” of North Korea.
Russia and North Korea, which are linked in particular by their opposition to the United States, have become considerably closer since Vladimir Putin launched an attack on Ukraine in February 2022. The two countries concluded in particular a mutual defense agreement during the Russian president's June visit to Pyongyang.
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