Key facts
- North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
- The two countries agreed to accelerate cooperation and expand bilateral relations.
- Russia expressed support for North Korea's sovereignty, while North Korea backed Russia's policies on Ukraine.
- The meetings were part of the third strategic dialogue between the top diplomats.
- Speculation exists that Choe's visit is to coordinate a potential trip by Kim Jong Un to Russia.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, agreeing to accelerate cooperation and deepen bilateral ties. The meetings, described as the third strategic dialogue between the top diplomats, reaffirmed a commitment to expand relations irrespective of changing situations, under the guidance of the leaders.
Russia voiced "full support" for North Korea's efforts to defend its sovereignty against "hostile" threats. In turn, North Korea expressed "invariable support for all the internal and external policies of the Russian Federation to eliminate the root cause of the Ukrainian dispute and defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international justice from the imperialist moves for hegemony."
Choe arrived in Moscow on Friday at Lavrov's invitation and met Putin in the Kremlin on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty signed by Kim Jong-un and Putin in June 2024 has guided the deepening of ties between the two nations. The meetings are seen as significant for expanding bilateral relations and contributing to regional and global peace and security.
Speculation has arisen that Choe's visit is to coordinate a potential trip by Kim Jong-un to Russia, following Putin's invitation to the North Korean leader for summit talks.