North Korea and Russia Deepen Military Cooperation at Strategic Dialogue in Moscow

Mutual Support Declared

According to KCNA, both sides decided to further expand and accelerate their bilateral cooperation. As the agency further reported, during her visit Choe laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden on the outer wall of the Kremlin.

The North Korean delegation also observed a minute of silence for the fallen in the "Holy War for the crushing of fascism" — this is how KCNA described Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The choice of words underscores the ideological charge that Pyongyang lends to the cooperation with Moscow.

Background: Military Entanglement

The background is a military cooperation with Russia that is unprecedented by North Korean standards since the start of the Ukraine war. According to estimates by the South Korean intelligence service, Pyongyang has deployed up to 15,000 soldiers to support Russia. At the same time, North Korea delivered extensive supplies of ammunition and artillery shells to the Russian armed forces.

According to the same estimates, at least 2,000 North Korean soldiers were killed in the fighting. These figures have not been independently confirmed, but are considered an indicator of the extent of North Korea's direct military involvement in the Ukraine war.

The visit to Moscow took place at a phase in which relations between Pyongyang and Moscow are rapidly deepening. Observers interpret the dialogue as a signal that both sides want to continue relying on each other in the future — politically as well as militarily — and in doing so provide each other mutual backing against international pressure.

Significance of the Rapprochement

The joint declaration contains no concrete new treaties, but reaffirms the willingness of both governments to continue on the chosen course. The demonstrative honoring at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the reference to the "Holy War" suggest a further growing symbolic and ideological rapprochement that goes beyond previous bilateral contacts.

With the third strategic dialogue within a short period of time, North Korea and Russia are sending a clear signal of solidarity. For Pyongyang, the rapprochement means foreign policy strengthening and economic relief; for Moscow, North Korea is a supplier of ammunition and personnel in the ongoing war against Ukraine.