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Sergei Shoigu, the top security adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, arrives in Pyongyang on March 21, 2025. (TASS/Yonhap)

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s top security official, discussed the war in Ukraine and Korean Peninsula security issues with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a visit to North Korea on Friday, Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency reported.

TASS said that Shoigu, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, met with Kim after arriving in Pyongyang that morning and discussed a range of matters, including Russia’s recent talks with the US.

In a meeting that lasted more than two hours, Shoigu reportedly discussed a wide range of issues, including the initial phase of Russia-US dialogue, developments in Ukraine and security on the Korean Peninsula and other regions.

Significantly, Shoigu’s visit to North Korea came while Russia and the US were negotiating a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. Russia presumably needed to update North Korea on those negotiations considering that Pyongyang has sent troops to fight alongside Russia.

The US and Russia recently arrived at a tentative agreement for Ukraine and Russia to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days. Ukraine also responded positively to the idea, but the two sides are continuing their attacks, accusing each other of violating the agreement.

Russia and the US are planning to hold further negotiations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday.

While it is unclear what exactly Shoigu and Kim said during their meeting, they presumably discussed Russia’s next steps. Russia has been gaining momentum and is on the verge of regaining territory near Kursk that is currently occupied by Ukraine.

Shoigu and Kim may also have discussed the role of North Korean troops currently deployed to the Kursk front.

TASS reported that Shoigu said his meeting with Kim was important and beneficial.

TASS also reported on March 6 that Shoigu told Kim, “I would like to convey the warmest wishes and greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to you. He pays the utmost attention to the implementation of agreements reached with you.”

Shoigu reportedly confirmed that Russia is prepared to unconditionally comply with the terms of those agreements and said that believes the conclusion of a new basic document would fully satisfy the interests of both countries.

Kim and Putin concluded a treaty for a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024, which paved the way for developing their bilateral relationship into a military alliance based on shared values.

Shoigu’s visit to North Korea is his first in six months, following a day trip to Pyongyang on Sept. 13, 2024, which also involved a meeting with Kim.

“At the talk, there was a wide exchange of views on the issues of steadily deepening the strategic dialogue between the two countries and strengthening cooperation to defend the mutual security interests and on the regional and international situation. The talk reached a satisfactory consensus on the presented issues,” North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun reported about Shoigu and Kim’s meeting last year.

It was on Oct. 18, about one month after Shoigu’s visit to the North, that the South Korean government under President Yoon Suk-yeol officially confirmed that North Korean troops had been deployed to Russia to engage in the war against Ukraine.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter; Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

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