U.S. expresses deep worry over Russia employing North Korean laborers and soldiers for operations against Ukraine.
In a twist of international relations, the bond between North Korea and Russia appears to be growing stronger, thanks to a series of high-level meetings, strategic agreements, and even tactical military support.
This deepening relationship was put on full display when Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met at the Vostochny cosmodrome in September 2023. They discussed everything from the Ukraine war to satellite technologies, all while sharpening their military collaboration[1].
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has been a frequent visitor to North Korea, and his June 2025 trip highlighted the ongoing effort to transform this partnership from just formal agreements to tangible actions. Shoigu has emphasized that the alliance is not just active but expanding, as per the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in June 2024[2].
This treaty, signed during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, includes a mutual defense clause, marking the formalization of a military alliance component[1][2]. To demonstrate the practical application of this alliance, North Korea reportedly dispatched troops to support Russian forces on the Kursk front of the Ukraine conflict in October 2024, without prior consultation with China[1].
South Korea's assessment suggests that North Korea's decision to send more military personnel to Russia reflects broader strategic objectives, indicating a strengthening military alliance and strategic alignment between the two nations, extending beyond mere economic interests[3].
The evolving partnership between North Korea and Russia represents a significant geopolitical realignment, unfolding amid broader regional and global security dynamics[1][2][3]. It's a dance of diplomacy that adds another layer of intrigue to the global chessboard.
[1] Smith, J. (2025, June 25). Russia's security chief says North Korea will dispatch 6,000 troops for reconstruction. Reuters: World News. https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-security-chief-says-north-korea-will-dispatch-6000-troops-reconstruction-2025-06-25/[2] Kim, J. (2025, June 25). Shoigu's return to Pyongyang signals solidified North Korea-Russia military cooperation. The Korean Herald. https://www.koreaherald.com/crush-genie/shoigu-s-return-to-pyongyang-signals-solidified-north-korea-russia-military-cooperation/[3] Park, J. (2025, October 12). South Korea must join U.S. in decoupling from China, but stay open to China, Russia and North Korea. Asia Times. https://asiatimes.com/2025/10/south-korea-must-join-us-in-decoupling-from-china-but-stay-open-to-china-russia-and-north-korea/
- The strengthening military alliance between North Korea and Russia, as signified by the mutual defense clause in the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, has led to North Korea sending troops to support Russian forces during the Kursk front of the Ukraine conflict, indicating a deeper political alignment and strategic objectives beyond economic interests.
- The decision to send military personnel to Russia by North Korea not only signifies a strengthening military alliance but also extends the strategic alignment between the two nations, a dynamic that adds another layer of intrigue to the broader regional and global security landscape.
- The deepening relationship between North Korea and Russia, accompanied by high-level meetings, strategic agreements, and military collaboration, represents a significant geopolitical realignment, unfolding amid war-and-conflicts and politics, ultimately shaping the general news discourse.
