As the two nations strengthen their cooperation over Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, Russian defense secretary Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday for discussions with its military and political leaders. In announcing the visit, Russia’s defence ministry did n’t say whom Belousov would meet or the purpose of the talks. The visit was n’t soon confirmed by North Korean state media.
Sergei Shoigu was replaced as defense secretary in May by former analyst Belousov as president of Russia after Vladimir Putin took office.
No Kwang Chol, the North Korean defence minister, and Belousov were seen on a red carpet at a Pyongyang aircraft, according to images released by the defence ministry. Under a banner that read,” Full assistance and cooperation with the fighting Russian troops and people,” North Korean military officers were spotted cheering.
Belousov noted after his appearance that the two nations ‘ defense cooperation is growing. Following their June meeting in Pyongyang, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a strategic relationship agreement that, according to him, aims to ease tensions by maintaining a “balance of energy” in the region and reducing the risk of war, including with nuclear arms.
According to Belousov, the June gathering demonstrated the leaders ‘ “highest level of mutual confidence” and “our mutual desire to further develop mutually beneficial cooperation in a complex global environment.”
No, the country’s defense minister, praised the country’s growing military cooperation and reiterated that it supports Russia’s” even fight to protect the country’s sovereign rights and protection interests.”
In response to North Korea sending thousands of troops to Russia in response to its efforts to defeat Ukraine, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with a Russian delegation led by defense minister Rustem Umerov in Seoul.
Kim has prioritized relations with Russia in recent months as he attempts to overcome his loneliness and advance internationally, favoring the concept of a “new Cold War.”
More than 10,000 men have been sent to Russia in recent weeks, according to the United States and its allies, and some of those forces are engaged in combat.
Additionally, North Korea is accused of providing Russia with weapons, weapons, and other military supplies that could allow Putin to expand his nearly three-year conflict. In Seoul, there are also fears that North Korea might get Russian-developed technology transfers in exchange for its troops and weapons in exchange for improved nuclear arms and missile programs.
Shin Wonsik, Yoon’s national security adviser, claimed in a TV interview last week that Seoul believes that Russia has offered North Korea air defense missile systems in exchange for sending its forces.
Kim emphasized that Russia’s continued support of North Korea’s efforts to develop a reliable space-based tracking system, which is essential to reducing the danger of nuclear-capable missiles from reaching South Korea.
Shin did not specify whether North Korea had now acquired ballistic missile technology and delicate nuclear weapons from Russia.
In his discussions with Umerov, Yoon’s office has n’t disclosed whether the two governments discussed the possibility of South Korea providing weapons to Ukraine.
South Korea has ratified US-imposed sanctions against Moscow and provided Kyiv with charitable and economic assistance since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, it has avoided directly supplying hands, citing a long-standing practice of not providing lethal weapons to nations that are constantly engaged in conflict.
Yoon has said his government will consider phased measures, linking the level of its reaction to the degree of Russian-North Asian assistance.
No date has been set for Belousov’s meeting with Kim, the president of North Korea. What outsiders characterized Kim’s visit to a North Korean shoulders show as a sales pitch and included a Russian group led by then-defence secretary Shoigu.
Kim and Putin had traveled to Russia for discussions, which accelerated defense cooperation between the two countries, weeks prior to that event. Kim and Putin agreed to provide mutual military support if either nation was attacked during a second meeting in Pyongyang in June of this year. This was regarded as the two nations ‘ biggest defense agreement since the Cold War ended.
Six Soviet and five Chinese aircraft that briefly entered South Korea’s air defense identification zone around its eastern and southern seas were reportedly the subject of the Russian statement about Belousov’s visit, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
According to the statement, the Russian and Chinese aircraft did not fly over South Korea’s regional aircraft.
