North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has begun her first official visit to Russia since the controversy surrounding North Korea’s alleged troop deployment to Russia emerged. While her visit’s specific agenda and schedule have not been disclosed, discussions regarding the troop deployment are expected to be a primary focus.
On Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Choe and her delegation departed from Pyongyang the previous day for their official visit to Russia. According to the agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Jong Kyu and Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora welcomed Choe’s delegation at Pyongyang International Airport. The Russian embassy in North Korea indicated that this visit is part of an ongoing strategic dialogue. This official visit marks Choe’s first since January, following her participation in the Eurasian Women’s Forum and the BRICS Women’s Forum held in St. Petersburg in September.
A South Korean Unification Ministry official stated, “It’s difficult to make assumptions without North Korea revealing its agenda, but there is a possibility of coordinating specific response measures related to troop deployments in Russia.” The official noted that discussions may focus on joint responses to significant international opposition and the potential request for protection from Russia before additional sanctions against North Korea are formally discussed in the UN Security Council. A meeting regarding North Korean troop deployments is scheduled for the Security Council on Wednesday. Yang Moo Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, predicted that there could be demands for documentation regarding the terms of the North Korean troop deployments. Victor Cha, the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), remarked that “North Korea has openly sought to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that can evade and overwhelm the U.S. national missile defense system,” adding that troop deployments could incentivize Russia to violate nuclear non-proliferation norms.
The schedule for a fourth summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin may also be discussed. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, commented on October 25 regarding a social media post that suggested “a high likelihood of Kim Jong Un visiting Russia again next year.” He stated, “Neighboring countries continuously exchange high-level and top-level visits.”