Russia’s Chief Diplomat Schedules Visit to North Korea
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to visit North Korea this weekend, marking his third visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since 2023, as reported by state media.
The Korean Central News Agency announced in a brief statement on Wednesday that Lavrov will travel to Pyongyang from Friday through Sunday, at the behest of North Korea’s foreign ministry. The report did not provide additional details. It is anticipated that the Russian foreign minister will engage in talks with his counterpart, Choe Son Hui, and potentially meet with leader Kim Jong Un.
Lavrov is set to make his third trip to North Korea in the span of two years. His initial visit took place in October 2023, during which he engaged in discussions with Choe and Kim in Pyongyang. Subsequently, he accompanied Russian President Vladimir Putin on a visit to the DPRK in June 2024.
During the visit, the leaders of Russia and North Korea formalized a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, establishing the foundation for military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. This agreement has progressively developed into what functions as a de facto defense alliance. Both nations have cited this accord to legitimize the deployment of North Korean troops to combat Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
In a prior engagement, Lavrov hosted Choe in Moscow in November 2024, where the diplomats conducted a “strategic dialogue” and committed to enhancing military cooperation in the face of US-led pressure. Additionally, Choe visited Moscow in January that year for discussions with Putin.
In March, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko disclosed that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov intends to visit North Korea within the year, but no specific timeframe was provided.
The official’s upcoming arrival takes place against the backdrop of a stagnant Ukrainian peace process and escalating tensions between Trump and the Kremlin.
This visit aligns with a previous trip by senior Russian security official Sergei Shoigu to Pyongyang last month. During that meeting, Kim Jong-un committed to dispatching an additional 6,000 military engineers and construction workers to Kursk, supplementing an initial force of 12,000 deployed since October.
