Putin thanks North Korea for Kursk support, Kim visit speculated
Synopsis
Putin's public gratitude for North Korean boots on Russian soil is no longer subtext — it is state policy, stated on the record. With Pyongyang's foreign minister in Moscow and a Kim-Putin summit reportedly in the works, the Russia-North Korea military axis is hardening into something more durable than a wartime arrangement.
Key Takeaways
Vladimir Putin publicly thanked North Korea on 19 July for deploying Korean People's Army soldiers to the Kursk region .
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui arrived in Moscow for an official visit at the invitation of Sergei Lavrov .
Analysts speculate the visit is preparatory groundwork for a potential Kim Jong-un trip to Russia.
Russia and North Korea signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' treaty in June 2024 , after which Pyongyang reportedly sent thousands of troops.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang last month, underscoring North Korea's simultaneous push to strengthen ties with China .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, 19 July publicly thanked North Korea for sending soldiers from the Korean People's Army (KPA) to participate in what Moscow describes as the 'liberation of the Kursk region,' according to local media reports. The remarks were made during a meeting with visiting North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in Moscow.
What Putin Said
'I would like to once again express my gratitude for the support of our special military operation and for the decision to send soldiers from the Korean People's Army to participate in the liberation of the Kursk region,' Putin said, according to Russia's state-owned news agency TASS.
The statement marks one of Putin's most explicit public acknowledgements of North Korean military participation in the conflict in Ukraine, a deployment that has drawn sharp international condemnation.
Choe Son-hui's Moscow Visit
Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui arrived in Moscow for an 'official visit' at the invitation of her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign ministry announced on Saturday. She departed Pyongyang on her official aircraft, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which did not disclose the purpose of the trip or her itinerary.
This is Choe's first visit to Russia since October, when she travelled to Moscow on a 'working visit' and also attended a global security forum in Belarus.
Speculation Over Kim Jong-un's Russia Trip
Analysts and regional observers are speculating that Choe's visit may be laying the groundwork for a potential trip to Moscow by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, given the absence of any major diplomatic event or bilateral anniversary that would otherwise explain the high-level visit. Putin has previously extended an invitation to Kim for summit talks in Moscow.
Notably, this comes amid Pyongyang's parallel efforts to reinforce ties with China. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang last month for talks with Kim, and the two countries have recently stepped up high-level exchanges to mark the 65th anniversary of their friendship treaty.
Russia-North Korea Strategic Partnership
The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has accelerated since the two countries signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' treaty in June 2024. Since then, North Korea has reportedly dispatched thousands of troops to support Russian forces and has broadened bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
Critics and Western governments argue that the troop deployment constitutes a direct intervention in the Ukraine conflict and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Moscow and Pyongyang have not addressed those allegations directly.
What Comes Next
With Choe's visit and mounting speculation over a Kim-Putin summit, the Russia-North Korea axis appears to be entering a new phase of formalised military and diplomatic alignment. Whether Kim's visit materialises — and what fresh agreements it might produce — will be closely watched by Seoul, Washington, and Kyiv alike.
Point of View
Nor is it meant to be. The timing of Choe's visit, with no obvious diplomatic trigger, strongly suggests a Kim-Putin summit is being staged rather than speculated. What is underreported is the triangular dynamic at play: as North Korea deepens its Russia bet, it is simultaneously courting Beijing, suggesting Pyongyang is not subordinating itself to Moscow but rather hedging across two great-power patrons. That balancing act will define the limits of what Russia can actually extract from this partnership.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Putin thank North Korea on 19 July?
Putin thanked North Korea for sending soldiers from the Korean People's Army to assist Russian forces in the Kursk region, which Moscow describes as part of its 'special military operation.' The remarks were made during a meeting with visiting North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in Moscow.
Why is Choe Son-hui visiting Moscow?
Russia's foreign ministry confirmed Choe arrived for an 'official visit' at the invitation of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, but neither side disclosed the specific agenda. Analysts believe the visit is aimed at coordinating a potential trip to Moscow by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
What is the Russia-North Korea strategic partnership?
Russia and North Korea signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' treaty in June 2024 during a summit between Putin and Kim Jong-un. Since then, North Korea has reportedly sent thousands of troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine and expanded bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
What is the significance of Kim Jong-un potentially visiting Russia?
A Kim-Putin summit in Moscow would signal a further formalisation of the two countries' military alliance and could produce new agreements on arms, troop deployments, or economic cooperation. It would also draw fresh international scrutiny and likely prompt stronger responses from the United States, South Korea, and NATO allies.
How does North Korea's Russia engagement affect its ties with China?
North Korea is simultaneously strengthening relations with China, its traditional ally and primary economic benefactor. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang last month, and the two countries marked the 65th anniversary of their friendship treaty with stepped-up high-level exchanges — suggesting Pyongyang is balancing its great-power relationships rather than pivoting exclusively to Moscow.
