According to a video released on the Kremlin’s Telegram account, Russian President Putin held a meeting with a senior North Korean official in Moscow on Thursday, February 27th.
During the meeting at the Kremlin on Thursday, Putin met with a delegation from the Workers’ Party of Korea led by Ri Hi Yong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, Secretary of the Central Committee, and Chairman of the Central Inspection Commission.
In response to an invitation from the ruling party of Russia, Ri Hi Yong led the Workers’ Party delegation to Moscow on the 24th. On the 25th, Ri Hi Yong held talks in Moscow with Vladimir Yakušev, Secretary of the Central Committee of the United Russia Party, and signed a memorandum of understanding for expanded cooperation and deepened development for 2025-2027. On the 26th, Ri Hi Yong met with Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and Chairman of the United Russia Party.
It is analyzed by the South Korean news agency that Putin’s special invitation to Ri Hi Yong for a meeting at the Kremlin sends a signal that even in the face of sudden changes, relations between North Korea and Russia will be valued.
The “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” signed jointly by the leaders of North Korea and Russia took effect last December in Moscow after the exchange of “ratifications”. The treaty, signed during Putin’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June during his visit to Pyongyang, includes a mutual defense treaty stipulating that if one party faces armed aggression, the other can immediately provide military and other assistance.
According to assessments from Ukraine, the United States, and South Korea, North Korea has reportedly deployed tens of thousands of soldiers to support the Russian side in the conflict in Ukraine.
On Thursday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency released news stating that North Korea is suspected of increasing troops sent to Russia. Some viewpoints speculate that due to heavy casualties, North Korean troops temporarily withdrew from the battlefield and this current action aims to replenish and reorganize forces for re-engagement.