Russia Officially Invites Kim Jong Un to Visit, "Schedule Being Coordinated Through Diplomatic Channels" (Update)

Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko's Announcement

Following Visits to the Far East in 2019 and 2023

Attention on Kim's First Trip to Moscow

The Russian government has officially invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to visit Russia and announced that specific dates are currently being coordinated through diplomatic channels.

According to Russian state news agency TASS on the 24th (local time), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said in an interview, "Chairman Kim Jong Un has been invited to visit our country," adding, "Russia will always warmly welcome the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." He further explained that the details of the visit are being discussed between the two countries through diplomatic channels.

On September 3rd last year in Beijing, China, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin requested Kim's visit to Russia during the summit in Pyongyang in June 2024, and later repeated this invitation during their meeting at the Chinese Victory Day military parade in September last year. Notably, in July this year, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui made a surprise visit to Moscow at the invitation of the Russian Foreign Ministry, further raising expectations for a possible visit to Russia by Kim Jong Un within the year.

Kim Jong Un previously visited Russia twice, in 2019 and 2023, but on both occasions stayed in the Far East regions, including Vladivostok and the Vostochny Cosmodrome, and has never visited the capital, Moscow.

This latest invitation is seen as an extension of the close security and economic ties the two countries have been solidifying. North Korea and Russia have been deepening their relationship based on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed in 2024. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty is the highest-level bilateral agreement, and it includes a mutual defense clause stipulating that in the event either side is invaded and finds itself in a state of war, the other is to provide military and other assistance without delay.

As strategic cooperation between the two countries is being strengthened through measures such as North Korean troop dispatch and technological collaboration, international attention is now focused on what security solidarity message and possible further cooperation will be signaled should Kim Jong Un’s first visit to Moscow take place.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.