Putin Meets North Korean Foreign Minister; North Korea Sends Troops and Weapons to Russia’s War in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the Kremlin on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Putin thanked the North Korean leadership and people for supporting Russia's military operations against Ukraine. Choe told Putin that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un remains committed to expanding relations with Russia.

Choe arrived in Moscow on Friday, July 17, at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The two foreign ministers held their third strategic dialogue on Monday, July 20. The talks addressed implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed in June 2024, high-level visits, multi-faceted cooperation plans, and diplomatic coordination on major international issues.

Both sides reached consensus on all issues discussed. Russia voiced full support for North Korea's efforts to defend its sovereignty against hostile threats. North Korea expressed support for Russia's policies to eliminate the root cause of the Ukrainian dispute and defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Putin invited Kim Jong Un to visit Russia during their June 2024 summit in Pyongyang. Kim traveled to Russia's Far East for summits with Putin in 2019 and 2023. North Korea has suspended all meaningful dialogue with the United States and South Korea since 2019.

North Korean Cabinet Premier Pak Thae Song met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this month. Chinese Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Huning visited Kim in Pyongyang this month. South Korea's Unification Ministry said it is monitoring the meetings.