Ties between the two countries have gained momentum following the June visit to Pyongyang by Russian President, Vladimir Putin, who signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Asian nation’s top leader, Kim Jong Un.
One of the articles of the treaty stipulates that if one of the parties is attacked by one or more other states and is in a state of war, the other party will immediately provide military or other assistance with all available means.
A few days ago the State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament) ratified the agreement in plenary session.
Western media are speculating that Choe’s trip to Moscow is related to the alleged presence of DPRK troops in Russia to support the special operation in Ukraine, an assertion that neither the Kremlin nor Pyongyang have confirmed.
They are also entertaining the possibility that both parties may be coordinating a visit by the chairman of the State Affairs Committee and general secretary of the Workers’ Party, Kim Jong Un, to Russia.
The terse note from the state news agency ACNC offers not details on the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s agenda in Russia, including the duration of her stay.
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