Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to embark on a rare state visit to North Korea on June 18-19, as confirmed by the Kremlin. This visit underscores Moscow’s growing ties with the secretive nuclear-armed nation under the leadership of North Korean Chairman of State Affairs Kim Jong Un.
The upcoming visit comes following an invitation extended by Kim Jong Un during his visit to Russia’s Far East in September last year. Putin’s last visit to Pyongyang dates back to July 2000, highlighting the significance of this diplomatic engagement.
According to the Kremlin’s announcement, after his visit to North Korea, Putin will proceed to Vietnam on June 19-20. While the visits were anticipated, the specific dates had not been publicly disclosed until now.
In recent times, Russia has actively promoted the revival of its relationship with North Korea, a move that has raised concerns among the United States and its allies across Europe and Asia. Washington has alleged that North Korea provided military support to Russia amid its conflict in Ukraine, an accusation consistently denied by Pyongyang.
For Putin, who views Russia’s conflict with the West over Ukraine as an existential struggle, engaging with Kim Jong Un allows him to assert Moscow’s stance against Washington and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Commenting on the significance of Putin’s visit, Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, emphasized its strategic implications. “The summit enhances North Korea’s international standing among nations opposed to the U.S.-led global order and strengthens Kim’s domestic legitimacy,” Easley remarked.
South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun discussed Putin’s forthcoming visit to North Korea during an urgent phone call with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. Seoul’s foreign ministry reiterated its stance that the visit should not lead to increased military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, which would violate U.N. resolutions.
Russia has affirmed its commitment to engage with North Korea on its own terms and to develop bilateral relations without external interference, particularly from the United States.
As Putin prepares for his diplomatic tour to North Korea and Vietnam, geopolitical observers continue to monitor developments closely, anticipating the implications for regional stability and international relations in the Asia-Pacific region.
