Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday to hold discussions with the country’s military and political leadership. The visit highlights the growing alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang while Russia seeks to strengthen its position in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Russian defense ministry, in announcing Belousov’s visit, did not disclose specific details about who he would meet or the purpose of the talks. North Korean state media has yet to confirm the visit.
Belousov, a former economist, assumed the role of defense minister in May, succeeding Sergei Shoigu after President Vladimir Putin began his fifth term in office.
Images shared by Russia’s Defense Ministry showed Belousov alongside North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol, strolling down a red carpet at Pyongyang’s airport. North Korean military officials were shown applauding beneath a prominently displayed banner declaring, “Complete support and solidarity with the fighting Russian army and people.”
The visit by Belousov comes shortly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Seoul. During their discussions, Yoon emphasized the need for joint countermeasures against North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to Russia to bolster its war efforts in Ukraine.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently prioritized strengthening ties with Moscow, seeking to break his country’s international isolation and solidify its position on the global stage. Kim has embraced the notion of a “new Cold War,” and he has aligned his country more closely with Russia.
According to the United States and its allies, North Korea has dispatched over 10,000 troops to Russia in recent weeks, with some reportedly taking part in active combat operations.
North Korea has also faced allegations of providing Russia with artillery systems, missiles, and other military equipment, potentially aiding Putin in prolonging the nearly three-year war in Ukraine.
Seoul has expressed concerns that, in return for its support, North Korea might receive advanced Russian technology. Such transfers could significantly enhance the capabilities of Kim’s nuclear weapons and missile programs, further escalating regional security threats.
South Korea’s National Security Adviser, Shin Wonsik, recently stated that Seoul believes Russia has supplied air defense missile systems to North Korea in exchange for sending troops to assist Moscow. The assessment raises further concerns about North Korea’s military capabilities and the growing cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
The announcement of Belousov’s visit to North Korea coincided with South Korea deploying fighter jets to intercept six Russian and five Chinese warplanes. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the aircraft briefly entered the country’s air defense identification zone over its eastern and southern seas but did not breach South Korean territorial airspace.
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