Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov visits North Korea for talks and ceremonies
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Apr 26
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov visits North Korea for talks and ceremonies
15 articles · Updated · Reuters · Apr 26
Belousov is the second senior Russian official to visit Pyongyang recently, following State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin's arrival for a memorial opening.
Belousov will meet North Korea's top leadership and military officials, and attend ceremonial events, while President Putin sent a telegram thanking Kim Jong Un and North Korean soldiers for support.
The visits highlight deepening Russia-North Korea ties, following a June 2024 strategic treaty and mutual defence pact, as both countries have strengthened diplomatic and military cooperation since 2023.
How will the new Russia-North Korea defense pact reshape security in the Indo-Pacific?
Will North Korean troops, battle-hardened in Ukraine, be deployed in future conflicts?
What advanced Russian technology will North Korea's nuclear and missile programs receive next?
Can international sanctions against Pyongyang survive this open defiance by Russia?
How does this formalized alliance challenge the Trump administration's foreign policy goals?
Does this military axis signal a permanent shift in global power alliances?
Russia-North Korea Alliance Deepens: 4,700 North Korean Troops Killed in Ukraine and Kursk Memorial Symbolism
Overview
In April 2026, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov visited Pyongyang to strengthen the strategic alliance formed by the 2024 mutual defense pact between Russia and North Korea. The visit included high-level meetings and the inauguration of a war memorial honoring North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces in Ukraine's Kursk region. This alliance addresses Russia's urgent need for military supplies and sanctions evasion, while providing North Korea with advanced technology and battlefield experience. The partnership heightens security concerns in Northeast Asia, prompting stronger cooperation among the US, South Korea, and Japan, and draws international condemnation, especially from Western powers, amid fears of destabilizing global security.