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A top North Korean official has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the relationship between North Korea and Russia has rapidly progressed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, North Korea began supplying Russia with both manpower and munitions, including thousands of troops (estimated by South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence at between 10,000 and 15,000) who were deployed primarily to support Russian operations in the contested Kursk region. Alongside personnel, Kim has shipped shitloads of artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and other conventional arms to bolster Russia’s war effort. In exchange, Putin reportedly provided North Korea with advanced technical assistance for its struggling space and satellite programs. Additionally, Russia is believed to have agreed to military sales that include the transfer of fighter jets and aviation components to help modernize North Korea’s outdated air force, marking one of the most consequential arms-for-support deals between the two countries in decades.

What’s going on now: In readouts provided by Russian and North Korean state media, the meeting between Putin and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui focused on the rapidly expanding partnership between the two nations. Putin described the current trajectory of bilateral ties as progressing “according to plan“ and highlighted the importance of working together. He also asked Choe to convey his “best wishes” to Kim, calling their previous meeting “very warm.”

Choe, in turn, delivered a message from Kim Jong Un, expressing “warm greetings” and reaffirming his commitment to deepening ties with Russia. She noted the “considerable progress” in Russia–North Korea relations and praised the “spiritual closeness” between the two countries. During her talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Choe also expressed North Korea’s “unwavering support for the Russian leadership’s policy aimed at defending state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international justice.”

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the discussions with Lavrov focused on regional security, coordination of military and strategic interests, and shared opposition to US and Western alliances in both Europe and Asia. Lavrov thanked North Korea for its “heroic” military support in Ukraine, particularly referencing the deployment of North Korean troops during Russia’s efforts to retake the Kursk region. “These heroic deeds will, of course, further strengthen the bonds of friendship and historical unity in our shared struggle for justice,” Lavrov said.