General NewsKim Jong UnMilitary and defenseNorth KoreaNorth Korea governmentPyongyangRussia governmentRussia-Ukraine warSergei ShoiguSouth KoreaSouth Korea governmentVladimir PutinWar and unrestWorld News North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian defense minister to discuss military cooperation by Chloe Baker July 27, 2023 written by Chloe Baker July 27, 2023 7 comments Bookmark 54 In a bid to bolster military cooperation, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un convened a meeting with Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, according to official North Korean media on Thursday. This meeting is seen as a symbolic gesture of support for Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, coinciding with North Korea’s celebration of the 70th anniversary of the armistice that suspended the Korean War in the early 1950s. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) disclosed that Kim and Shoigu, during their meeting in Pyongyang, came to a mutual agreement on certain undisclosed defense and security-related matters along with the overall international security situation. In the meeting, Shoigu reportedly presented a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, although the specifics of their military-related discussions weren’t detailed. North Korea has previously shown solidarity with Russia over the Ukraine war, attributing Moscow’s military actions to the West’s coercive policies. The Biden administration, meanwhile, has accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia, a claim that North Korea rejects. The KCNA affirmed that the Kim-Shoigu meeting would intensify strategic cooperation between the two nations, particularly concerning defense and security. Amid the pandemic, North Korea welcomed Russian and Chinese representatives to commemorate the armistice on July 27, 1953. Although the ceasefire left the Korean Peninsula in a state of ongoing conflict, North Korea considers it a victory in their “Grand Fatherland Liberation War”. The KCNA revealed that Kim accompanied Shoigu to an exhibition of North Korea’s advanced weaponry and disclosed plans to enhance the nation’s military capabilities. The exhibition included what seemed to be intercontinental ballistic missiles that North Korea recently tested and possibly new drones yet to be announced publicly. In response to queries on whether Shoigu’s visit was to explore potential weapon imports from North Korea, John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, refrained from direct comment but suggested Putin’s outreach to other nations for support in Ukraine. Experts conjecture that North Korea is using current international tensions as a chance to break free from diplomatic isolation and forge a united front against the US. Notably, both Moscow and Beijing have been thwarting US-led attempts to enforce stronger UN sanctions on North Korea following their repeated missile tests since 2022. Despite being expected to end Thursday’s celebrations with a grand military parade, state media has yet to confirm such plans. The last time North Korea welcomed foreign delegates for a military parade was back in 2018, which was more subdued and excluded Kim’s ICBMs, coinciding with the initiation of diplomatic talks with Seoul and Washington. After an unsuccessful summit with former US President Donald Trump in 2019, Kim has been focusing on the expansion of his nuclear arsenal, which he views as his best guarantee of survival, while expressing resentment towards the US’s stringent sanctions. China’s delegation to North Korea is led by politburo member Li Hongzhong, who also handed over a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Kim. At a reception, Li expressed China’s eagerness to cultivate a “sound and stable” relationship with North Korea. Analysts suggest Kim’s joint presence with Shoigu and Li at a potential military parade could be seen as a significant achievement for North Korea, signaling defiance towards the US. Shoigu also held talks with North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam aimed at strengthening defense cooperation, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Kim Jong Un and Sergei Shoigu meetingWho met to discuss military cooperation recently?What was the purpose of the meeting between Kim Jong Un and Sergei Shoigu?How does North Korea view the war in Ukraine?Who were the delegations invited by North Korea for the armistice anniversary?What military developments were shown during Shoigu’s visit?How does North Korea view its current relationship with the United States?What did the meeting imply for future relations between North Korea and Russia?More about Kim Jong Un and Sergei Shoigu meeting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Kim Jong Un and Sergei Shoigu meeting Who met to discuss military cooperation recently? North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss military cooperation and regional security issues. What was the purpose of the meeting between Kim Jong Un and Sergei Shoigu? The purpose of the meeting was to discuss matters of mutual concern in the field of national defense and security, as well as the regional and international security environment. How does North Korea view the war in Ukraine? North Korea has been aligning with Russia over the war in Ukraine, insisting that the “hegemonic policy” of the U.S.-led West forced Moscow to take military action to protect its security interests. Who were the delegations invited by North Korea for the armistice anniversary? North Korea invited delegations from Russia and China to attend the events marking the armistice of July 27, 1953. What military developments were shown during Shoigu’s visit? During the visit, an arms exhibition was held showcasing some of North Korea’s newest weapons, including large missiles and potentially new surveillance and attack drones. How does North Korea view its current relationship with the United States? North Korea sees the U.S. confrontations with China and Russia over regional influence and the war in Ukraine as an opportunity to break out of diplomatic isolation and insert itself into a united front against Washington. What did the meeting imply for future relations between North Korea and Russia? The Kim-Shoigu meeting will likely boost strategic and tactical collaboration between the two countries in the field of national defense and security. More about Kim Jong Un and Sergei Shoigu meeting North Korea’s Recent Interactions with Russia Context on North Korea’s Support for Russia Background on North Korea’s Nuclear Program Details about the Armistice of July 27, 1953 Information on Russia’s Involvement in Ukraine Background on US-North Korea Relations Details about the Korean War You Might Be Interested In US Forest Service and historically Black colleges unite to boost diversity in wildland firefighting In session reacting to school shooting, Tennessee GOP lawmaker orders removal of public from hearing Georgia Supreme Court Blocks GOP-Endorsed Commission from Disciplining Prosecutors Pakistan buries dead from massive suicide attack at political rally that killed 54 GOP senator challenges Teamsters head to a fight in a fiery exchange at a hearing The US sets a grim milestone with a new record for the deadliest six months of mass killings General NewsKim Jong UnMilitary and defensemilitary cooperationNorth KoreaNorth Korea governmentPyongyangRussiaRussia governmentRussia-Ukraine warSergei ShoiguSouth KoreaSouth Korea governmentVladimir PutinWar and unrest Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Chloe Baker Follow Author Chloe Baker is a travel journalist who covers the latest news and trends in the world of travel. She enjoys exploring new destinations and sharing her experiences with her readers, from exotic locales to hidden gems off the beaten path. previous post Bronny James’ Condition Unchanged, 2 Days Post Cardiac Arrest at USC Basketball Practice next post Trump Faces Multiple Legal Troubles Across Different States and Venues You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 7 comments AmeliaR July 27, 2023 - 3:58 pm so NK is showing its cards now huh? throwing in with Russia, guess they really dont like the US… :/ Reply KellyA90 July 27, 2023 - 10:51 pm so…whats the endgame here for North Korea? seems like theyre playing with fire, aligning with Russia. Reply JohnDoe2002 July 27, 2023 - 11:22 pm Now this is something! I wonder what the White House thinks about all this… Reply Mike999 July 28, 2023 - 5:24 am This is a real game changer. wonder what the response from the US will be. should be interesting to see… Reply ThomasW July 28, 2023 - 5:43 am Seems like NK and Russia arent happy with the US… understatement of the century, right? lol. Reply JakeH91 July 28, 2023 - 7:24 am Woah, didn’t expect this! If North Korea and Russia are teaming up, the world should be on high alert… Reply Sam87 July 28, 2023 - 9:40 am wow, just when you thought the world couldn’t get any crazier! NK and Russia against the west…scary stuff. 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