Russia and North Korea Strengthen Military Ties in Pyongyang

Senior military officials from Russia and North Korea met in Pyongyang on November 5 and 6, 2025, to strengthen military-political cooperation and the combat brotherhood between their respective armed forces. The Russian delegation was led by Vice Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin, who held discussions with North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol and Lieutenant General Pak Yong Il. During the visit, Goremykin also toured the Kim Il Sung Military University and the Red Flag Mangyongdae Revolutionary School.

These meetings follow a visit by No Kwang Chol to Moscow on October 1 and aim to expand bilateral relations established by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. While no specific new agreements were disclosed, the talks occurred as South Korea's National Intelligence Service detected recruitment and training activities in North Korea, suggesting preparations for additional troop deployments to Russia.

South Korean assessments indicate that North Korea has already provided approximately 15,000 troops and 5,000 construction troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine and infrastructure projects in the Kursk region. In addition to personnel, North Korea has supplied significant quantities of military equipment, including artillery and ballistic missiles.