North Korean and Russian Military Officials Discuss Further Cooperation in Pyongyang
Senior North Korean and Russian military officials met to discuss strengthening their cooperation, as both countries continue to align over Russia's war in Ukraine.
SEOUL: Senior North Korean and Russian military officials discussed strengthening cooperation in their latest talks this week in Pyongyang, according to North Korean state media.
The report came days after South Korea’s spy agency indicated it had detected signs of recruitment and training activities in North Korea, possibly in preparation for additional troop deployments to Russia.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said that the meeting took place on Wednesday, with Pak Yong Il, vice director of the Korean People's Army's General Political Bureau, leading the North Korean delegation.
They were met by a Russian delegation headed by Vice Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin.
The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in line with the 'deepened bilateral relations' established under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
No specific agreements were mentioned.
KCNA also reported that Goremykin's delegation held separate talks with North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on Thursday.
When questioned about potential discussions regarding additional North Korean troop deployments to Russia, Chang Yoon-jeong, spokesperson for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, stated that Seoul is closely monitoring the situation but cannot make assumptions.
These developments follow a visit by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to South Korea for annual security talks with allies.
Hegseth praised South Korean plans to increase military spending in response to threats from nuclear-armed North Korea and other regional uncertainties.
South Korean assessments suggest that approximately 15,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia since last fall, along with large quantities of military equipment such as artillery and ballistic missiles to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
Additionally, Kim Jong Un has agreed to send thousands of military construction workers and deminers to Russia's Kursk region.
In a briefing to lawmakers on Tuesday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service indicated that around 5,000 North Korean military construction troops have been gradually moving to Russia since September for possible deployment in infrastructure restoration projects.
The report came days after South Korea’s spy agency indicated it had detected signs of recruitment and training activities in North Korea, possibly in preparation for additional troop deployments to Russia.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said that the meeting took place on Wednesday, with Pak Yong Il, vice director of the Korean People's Army's General Political Bureau, leading the North Korean delegation.
They were met by a Russian delegation headed by Vice Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin.
The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in line with the 'deepened bilateral relations' established under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
No specific agreements were mentioned.
KCNA also reported that Goremykin's delegation held separate talks with North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on Thursday.
When questioned about potential discussions regarding additional North Korean troop deployments to Russia, Chang Yoon-jeong, spokesperson for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, stated that Seoul is closely monitoring the situation but cannot make assumptions.
These developments follow a visit by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to South Korea for annual security talks with allies.
Hegseth praised South Korean plans to increase military spending in response to threats from nuclear-armed North Korea and other regional uncertainties.
South Korean assessments suggest that approximately 15,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia since last fall, along with large quantities of military equipment such as artillery and ballistic missiles to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
Additionally, Kim Jong Un has agreed to send thousands of military construction workers and deminers to Russia's Kursk region.
In a briefing to lawmakers on Tuesday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service indicated that around 5,000 North Korean military construction troops have been gradually moving to Russia since September for possible deployment in infrastructure restoration projects.
