North Korean Delegation Arrives in Moscow for Unspecified Talks
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a delegation representing the party and government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has arrived in Moscow. The delegation is headed by Jo Yong Won, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
The visit to Russia was extended by Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as the chairman of the ruling United Russia party and holds the position of Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council.
Upon arrival at the airport, the North Korean delegation was welcomed by Andrey Klimov, a member of the Supreme Council of United Russia and First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma, along with Sin Hung Chol, North Korea’s ambassador to Moscow, and other officials, according to reports from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Jo Yong Won is recognized as one of the close associates of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and is leading this party and government delegation. KCNA has not yet provided details regarding the travel itinerary, discussion points, or the length of the delegation’s stay in Russia.
Relations between Russia and North Korea have seen significant expansion in recent years, particularly following the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement between the two nations in June 2024. This agreement includes a commitment from both countries to provide military assistance should either party face armed aggression.
Military and political cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has also broadened considerably since North Korean forces were deployed to support Russia in the conflict in Ukraine.
The arrival of the North Korean delegation in Moscow occurs just prior to an anticipated trilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China.
Some analysts have speculated that Jo Yong Won’s visit may be aimed at conveying messages from Kim Jong Un to Putin and engaging in consultations on regional developments and the relationships between the three countries. However, Pyongyang has not officially disclosed the specific objectives for this trip.
