Russia Mum on Kim Jong-un Visit, North Korea Blames Trilateral Cooperation for Rising Tensions
Russia Remains Silent on Potential Kim Jong-un Visit
On October 29, 2025, the Kremlin stated it had no announcements to make regarding a possible visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This response comes amidst a recent surge in high-level exchanges between Moscow and Pyongyang, drawing significant attention. Speculation about a return visit by Kim has been ongoing since Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea last year and held a summit with Kim, making the Kremlin's statement open to interpretation.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded curtly to a question on October 28, 2025 (local time) regarding Kim Jong-un's potential visit, saying, "We have nothing to say on this topic at the moment." He did not provide any specific reasons or context. Peskov's cautious stance may reflect the complexities of current Russia-North Korea relations. While cooperation between the two countries is strengthening in various sectors, it also suggests a need to consider international scrutiny and various constraints.
Meanwhile, in June 2024, President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea, signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, and invited Kim Jong-un to Russia. At the time, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including economics, military affairs, and culture, and agreed to further enhance cooperation in the security sector. This agreement, which includes mutual military assistance in the event of an emergency, has raised concerns among Western nations. Putin's visit to North Korea is regarded as a significant event signaling a new phase in Russia-North Korea relations.
President Putin also recently received North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. Peskov stated that the meeting involved discussions on "all issues related to plans to further develop and strengthen friendship, partnership, and alliance between Russia and North Korea." This demonstrates that relations between the two countries are aiming for a long-term strategic partnership beyond simple, temporary cooperation. In particular, Russia's need for cooperation with North Korea has grown as sanctions from Western countries have intensified following the war in Ukraine.
Choe Son-hui arrived in Moscow on October 26, 2025, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and subsequently paid a courtesy call on President Putin. During these meetings, the two sides reportedly discussed various topics, including strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, expanding cultural exchanges, and exchanging views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Specifically, North Korea is believed to be seeking to strengthen its position in the international community and escape economic sanctions with Russia's support.
On October 28, 2025, Choe Son-hui, along with Minister Lavrov, attended the Eurasian Security International Conference in Belarus. At this conference, Choe argued that cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan is exacerbating regional tensions. This statement clearly reveals that North Korea views the ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation framework as a threat to itself. North Korea has consistently condemned joint ROK-U.S. military exercises, arguing that they escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Choe's remarks suggest that the security environment surrounding the Korean Peninsula remains unstable and that North Korea continues to maintain sharp antagonism in its relations with neighboring countries. In particular, North Korea is subject to international sanctions for its continued development of nuclear weapons and missile tests, and in this context, strengthening relations with Russia could be an important diplomatic breakthrough for North Korea. However, Russia, as a member of the international community, is inevitably forced to maintain a cautious stance in its cooperation with North Korea.
The Kremlin's recent announcement and Choe Son-hui's remarks demonstrate that Russia-North Korea relations involve various variables within a complex international situation. International attention is focused on the direction of Russia-North Korea relations in the future, and the impact this will have on the security environment of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. In particular, the government of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung must closely monitor these developments and continuously pursue diplomatic efforts for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, close cooperation with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump will be necessary to deter North Korean provocations and seek solutions through dialogue and cooperation.
