Strengthening the Strategic Partnership: Outcomes of the Visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK to Moscow

Choe Son-hui, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, has concluded a four-day visit to Moscow. This marks her second trip to the Russian capital in less than a year. The agenda of the visit was packed with activity; it included intensive talks with Sergei Lavrov and a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

The Agenda and Official Rhetoric

Vladimir Putin congratulated the Korean people on the anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (1950–1953) and expressed gratitude to Pyongyang for its support during the special military operation. The president particularly highlighted the decision by the North Korean leadership to deploy military personnel to the Kursk region, stating: “We will never forget their feat. We will honour the Korean heroes alongside our own compatriots.” In response, Choe Son-hui conveyed a “warm and comradely greeting” from Kim Jong‑un and affirmed that the DPRK would stand with Russia until Moscow’s victorious end.

On 20 July, the third round of the strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of the two countries took place. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the parties discussed the implementation of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the schedule of high‑level visits, and the coordination of their actions on the international stage.

Sergei Lavrov underlined Russia’s full support of the DPRK’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and to counter hostile acts. For her part, Choe Son-hui reaffirmed Pyongyang’s solidarity with Moscow’s line aimed at addressing the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and protecting Russia’s territorial integrity from “imperialist machinations.”

Potential Topics for Discussion

Choe Son‑hui’s visit to Moscow took place outside the framework of international forums or commemorative dates, which has given rise to numerous theories regarding its genuine objectives. Most experts suggest that the key topic of the negotiations was the........

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