Kim Jong Un Meets with Russian Minister Amidst Strengthening Ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Alexander Kozlov, on Tuesday, further solidifying the rapidly warming relationship between the two countries, Al Jazeera reports.

The meeting, held at the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee headquarters, comes on the heels of a landmark mutual defense treaty and increased diplomatic exchanges.

Kozlov led a Russian government delegation to Pyongyang for the 11th meeting of the DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim expressed gratitude for the deepening bilateral cooperation, citing the recently ratified treaty as a catalyst for strengthened ties.

The mutual defense treaty, signed in June during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit and ratified earlier this month, commits both nations to providing immediate military assistance to each other in the event of aggression. This agreement follows reports of a significant deployment of North Korean soldiers to support Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine, though the exact number remains disputed.

Adding to the flurry of diplomatic activity, a delegation from the Russian army’s Military Academy of the General Staff arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, coinciding with the departure of a Pyongyang city council delegation to Russia. The exact purpose of these reciprocal visits remains unclear.