“North Korea is an important partner of Russia”

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held talks with his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam in Pyongyang on July 26 and expressed determination to promote bilateral relations, Russia's TASS news agency reported.

Shoigu arrived in the North Korean capital on July 25 for a three-day visit to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice (July 27, 1953 – July 27, 2023).

Speaking at the meeting, Shoigu expressed his intention to consistently develop bilateral relations between Russia and North Korea in all areas. “I am confident that today’s talks will help strengthen cooperation between our defense ministries,” Shoigu said, TASS reported.

The Russian defense minister also stressed that interaction between the two countries has increased in the post-war period. “Visits of warships, official visits of senior defense officials, working-level exchanges and personnel training all contribute to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” Shoigu said.

World - Minister Shoigu: — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) and North Korean Defense Minister General Kang Sun-nam (right). Photo: TASS

“For Russia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an important partner, linked by a common border and a rich history of cooperation,” Shoigu stressed.

The minister also expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome from North Korea. According to a short video on Telegram, he was greeted by a North Korean military official on the red carpet at an airport on June 25.

Behind him was a red banner with the words: “Welcome, Comrade Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu!” in Korean and Russian.

North Korea sealed its borders after the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, and now it has opened its doors to allies to witness the nation's historic moment.

China and Russia are both sending high-level delegations to North Korea to attend a military parade to showcase the country’s latest weapons. The parade is expected to take place as early as midnight on July 26 to mark the end of the war, also known as Victory Day, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

Yonhap added that there were signs that North Korea was preparing for a nighttime air show with fighter jets and other equipment.

Before 2018, Pyongyang held its parades mostly in the morning. However, since the event held to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party in October 2020, the country has switched to holding parades in the evening or late at night.

According to Yonhap, the list of weapons likely to be on display includes intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles as well as Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles. In addition, the Haeil underwater nuclear attack drone and the Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead may also appear .

Nguyen Tuyet (According to Yonhap, TASS, The Moscow Times)

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