Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday on a special visit directed by President Vladimir Putin, according to Russian state media.
The trip comes as part of Moscow's continued efforts to deepen defence ties with North Korea under a strategic partnership treaty signed last year.
Shoigu is expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his stay, with discussions focused on implementing agreements reached during a previous visit earlier this month, Russian news agency reported.
The visit signals the growing importance of North Korea in Russia's military strategy, particularly as the conflict in Ukraine enters a new and intensified phase.
North Korea has emerged as one of Russia’s closest military partners amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Since late 2023, Pyongyang has reportedly supplied Moscow with millions of artillery shells and at least 100 ballistic missiles.
Additionally, North Korea is believed to have deployed more than 11,000 troops to aid Russian operations in Ukraine's border regions.
The United Kingdom’s defence intelligence estimated that over 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
In response to mounting casualties, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier reported that Pyongyang sent an additional 3,000 troops in January and February this year.
In June 2024, the two countries formalised their military alignment by signing a mutual defence pact, obligating both nations to offer assistance in the event of an external attack. This agreement was widely interpreted as a direct challenge to Western sanctions and diplomatic pressure on both regimes.
International monitors have raised concerns over the legality of this growing alliance. In May, the UN-affiliated Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team accused Russia and North Korea of engaging in “unlawful military cooperation” that violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Alongside receiving munitions, Russia is believed to have supported North Korea in upgrading its military technology, including ballistic missile guidance systems, electronic warfare platforms, and short-range air defence infrastructure.
In a speech delivered in May 2025, Kim Jong Un referred to his country's support for Russia’s war effort as a “sacred mission,” reinforcing Pyongyang’s ideological commitment to its alliance with Moscow.
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