North Korean Foreign Minister’s Visits Russia: Talks on Arms Trade and Putin’s Visit on the Agenda

A North Korean government delegation led by Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui departed from Pyongyang the day before to visit Russia. This is the first time Minister Choi, promoted to Foreign Minister in June 2022, has visited a foreign country solo.

On the 15th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Pak Chul-jun, Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Topeha, Acting Ambassador of the Russian Embassy in North Korea, and Valery Isayenko, Military Attaché, saw off Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at Pyongyang International Airport.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who visited North Korea last October, invited Choi to Russia, leading to her recent visit.

Choi will stay in Russia from the 15th to the 17th, holding a North Korea-Russia foreign ministers’ meeting with Minister Lavrov to discuss cooperation between the two countries.

In particular, it is noteworthy whether discussions on arms trade between Russia and North Korea will occur at this meeting. It’s also highly possible that discussions will include Russian President Vladimir Putin’s potential visit to North Korea.

Earlier, President Putin had accepted an invitation from Kim Jong Un to journey to North Korea, an invitation extended during a North Korea-Russia summit held in Russia last September.