Relationship with North Korea is growing as deliberate, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Monday (October 27, 2025) that his nation’s ties with North Korea had been growing “as planned”, as he hosted North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui within the Kremlin.

Ms. Choe handed on “warm wishes” from North Korean chief Kim Jong Un after she had earlier hailed the “spiritual closeness” between Moscow and Pyongyang throughout a gathering along with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

The go to is the most recent in a flurry of diplomatic exchanges between the 2 international locations and comes simply days after Mr. Kim pledged to advance army ties with Moscow.

Here’s what we learn about relations between the 2 international locations:

North Korea, one of many world’s most diplomatically remoted nations, has deepened cooperation with Russia since Mr. Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia and North Korea signed a strategic partnership settlement in 2024 that obliges both facet to supply “military and other assistance” ought to the opposite be attacked.

In late 2024, North Korea despatched hundreds of troopers and container a great deal of weapons to assist Russia push Ukrainian forces out of its western Kursk area.

At least 600 North Korean troopers died throughout that offensive and hundreds extra sustained accidents, in response to South Korean estimates.

Moscow and Pyongyang spent months denying and ignoring Western stories of the deployment.

Only in April, when Russia declared it had expelled Kyiv’s forces, did Mr. Putin publicly acknowledge the position of the “heroic” North Koreans who fought alongside his military.

North Korea additionally acknowledged the deployment and, for the primary time since its founding in 1948, acknowledged it had misplaced troopers on international soil.

Earlier this month, North Korean state media reported that the nation had began development of a memorial for troopers killed within the combating.

The United States says there may be proof Russia is stepping up its help for North Korea, together with offering assistance on superior house and satellite tv for pc know-how.

Ukraine says it has discovered fragments of North Korean weapons together with missiles on the battlefield.

‘Closest comrade’

Russia and North Korea have loved traditionally shut ties because the Soviet period.

The USSR was the primary nation to recognise North Korea in 1948 and offered army help to Pyongyang through the Korean War.

North Korea was one in all solely 5 UN international locations to vote towards condemning Russia’s offensive on Ukraine in 2022 and has since expressed help for Moscow’s territorial claims over 5 southern and japanese Ukrainian areas.

Mr. Kim and Mr. Putin have additionally repeatedly exchanged heat phrases.

In birthday messages, Mr. Kim has referred to Mr. Putin as his “closest comrade”.

Trade and tourism

In April, the 2 international locations started setting up the primary street bridge between them.

And in July, Russia launched direct industrial flights between Moscow and Pyongyang amid rising numbers of officers and delegations shuttling between the 2 capitals.

Earlier this yr, North Korea opened an enormous vacationer zone on its east coast that has welcomed Russian guests.

North Korea is among the world’s most closed nations, usually criticised by rights teams for its repressive insurance policies and outlawing of dissent.

The United Nations stated final month that the previous decade contained in the nation had been marked by “increased suffering, repression and fear”.