Russian President Vladimir Putin is embarking on a rare trip to North Korea, aiming to bolster ties with a longstanding ally amid international sanctions over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
North Korean state media announced Monday that Putin’s visit is scheduled for June 18–19.
Ahead of his arrival, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hailed the deepening relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang in a message celebrating Russia’s National Day on June 12, emphasizing their “unbreakable relationship of comrades-in-arms.”
Kim previously visited Russia’s Far East in September, meeting Putin and touring military installations, which sparked concern in the West about potential military cooperation between the two nations. Russian and North Korean officials acknowledged discussions on enhancing defense ties during the visit but provided no specifics.
Both Russia and North Korea are at odds with the United States — Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine and North Korea over its nuclear ambitions.
Denying allegations of illicit arms transfers, both countries insist they abide by U.N. Security Council resolutions.
South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik claimed in March that North Korea had shipped approximately 7,000 containers of military supplies to Russia and received over 9,000 containers of aid in return.
Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University, highlighted Russia’s tactical interest in North Korea amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, suggesting less strategic value once hostilities diminish.
“During active military phases, we’ll likely see robust engagement in arms trade. North Korea seeks military and technical support, but acquiring such technologies may prove challenging,” Lankov stated.
Putin’s forthcoming trip marks his second visit to North Korea, with his first occurring in July 2000, shortly after his initial election, where he met with then-leader Kim Jong Il.
Moscow has praised Pyongyang’s support in international forums regarding Ukraine and underscored their “close and productive collaboration” at the United Nations and other global bodies.
Together with China, Russia has repeatedly blocked U.S. efforts to impose fresh U.N. sanctions on North Korea for its banned ballistic missile tests.
In March, a Russian veto halted U.N. monitoring of sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear activities, prompting criticism from the West of Moscow’s alleged violations by procuring weapons from Pyongyang for use in Ukraine.
Earlier this year, Putin gifted Kim a high-end Aurus Senat limousine, initially displayed during their September summit, an act that analysts say breaches a U.N. resolution barring luxury item supplies to North Korea in efforts to halt its nuclear program.
