North Korean Foreign Minister visits Moscow as troops head to Ukraine

North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has embarked on a rare diplomatic visit to Moscow, reinforcing Pyongyang’s alliance with Russia amid escalating international scrutiny.

The Korean Central News Agency confirmed Choe’s departure for Russia on Monday, though specific trip details remain undisclosed. This visit comes as Western officials voice concerns over North Korea’s apparent involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In an exclusive closed-door briefing, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service suggested Choe’s Moscow discussions might involve negotiations on North Korea’s military aid to Russia. According to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, “Choe may be engaged in high-level talks about dispatching additional troops to Russia and negotiating what support North Korea would receive from Russia in return.” These discussions follow the Pentagon’s revelation that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are en route to support Russian forces, expected to join the Ukrainian front lines within weeks.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh noted that some North Korean troops have reportedly positioned closer to the Kursk border region, where Russian forces are grappling with Ukrainian advances. Additionally, the South Korean intelligence agency suspects high-ranking North Korean military personnel may already be coordinating on the front lines. Intelligence also suggests Russia is assisting North Korea’s military development, particularly in space reconnaissance, as the North works to advance its satellite capabilities following a failed launch in May. Lawmaker Park Sun-won indicated that “North Korea may be acquiring advanced components from Russia” as it readies another satellite launch.

While Russia and North Korea have not directly confirmed troop cooperation, both nations claim that their growing military ties are consistent with international norms. Despite this, the United States and its allies have condemned North Korea’s involvement, alleging that Moscow may be helping Pyongyang circumvent sanctions and illicitly fund its weapons programs.