What’s Behind Sergei Shoigu’s Recent Visits to North Korea?
Shoigu's Diplomatic Mission to Pyongyang
Seoul: On Tuesday, Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary of Russia's Security Council, made his second trip to Pyongyang in under two weeks to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as reported by a Russian news agency.
Shoigu's visit is part of a special mission assigned by President Vladimir Putin, and he is anticipated to hold discussions with Kim.
This marks Shoigu's second visit to North Korea this month, following an earlier trip in early June where he also met with Kim to address security matters concerning the Korean Peninsula.
According to TASS, the Russian Security Council indicated that Shoigu's upcoming discussions with Kim are a continuation of agreements established during his previous visit on June 4, which also included a mutual defense pact signed last year between North Korea and Russia.
Shoigu's consecutive visits coincide with the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty signed by Kim and Putin in June of the previous year, which led to North Korean troop deployments on the Russian front in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as reported by Yonhap news agency referencing TASS.
As the June 19 anniversary approaches, there is growing speculation about a potential visit from Kim to Russia for a summit with Putin, although no immediate plans have been confirmed.
This visit by Shoigu marks the third in nearly three months, reflecting the rapid development of diplomatic and security relations between the two nations, particularly regarding North Korea's military assistance to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
Earlier on June 4, Shoigu had arrived in Pyongyang to meet with Kim Jong-un, following directives from President Putin.
With stringent international sanctions in place, North Korea has increasingly sought resources and collaboration from Russia, reportedly receiving advanced defense technologies to bolster its nuclear and missile capabilities in exchange for troop deployments and arms supplies.