The North Korean authorities officially confirmed the visit of a Russian military delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin to Pyongyang. The meeting took place on November 6 and was also attended by North Korean Defense Minister No Kwan-chol, Deputy Chief of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army Pak Yong-il, Deputy Foreign Minister of North Korea Kim Jong-gyu, and the Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Discussion of Cooperation and Military Support
During the negotiations, issues related to the expansion of cooperation between the two countries were discussed, particularly under the strategic guidance of the leaders of Russia and North Korea. The delegates talked about deepening bilateral relations and enhancing military-political interaction. According to the North Korean news agency KCNA, the meeting was held in a constructive and friendly atmosphere.
“The negotiations took place in a friendly setting,” the KCNA report stated.
North Korean Military Resources on the Side of Russia
According to South Korean intelligence (NIS), as a result of the agreements, up to five thousand North Korean soldiers are expected to be sent to Russia. Since September 2024, signs of preparation of additional North Korean units for participation in the war against Ukraine have been observed. It is anticipated that mainly construction troops and sappers will be sent to Russia for demining areas and conducting restoration work.
Back in June, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu reported that Kim Jong-un had allowed the dispatch of six thousand North Koreans, including one thousand sappers, to the Kursk region for demining and infrastructure restoration.
Since October 2024, North Korea has already sent about 15 thousand soldiers to support Russia in combat operations against Ukraine, as well as provided military assistance in the form of ammunition and artillery. According to estimates from the U.S. National Intelligence Service, approximately two thousand North Korean soldiers have died in the battles for the Kursk region alone.
It is worth noting that a strategic treaty between Russia and North Korea was signed in June 2024 in Pyongyang by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. The document provides for mutual military assistance in the event of aggression against either party. It was after the signing of this agreement that North Korean troops were sent to the front in the Kursk region, where combat operations involving Ukrainian forces were ongoing in several areas at that time.