Although He Did Not Go to Moscow,
"Taking Care of Russia" in Pyongyang
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on the 9th to mark the 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day, once again emphasizing the strengthening of the North Korea-Russia alliance. This is the first time that Kim has visited the Russian Embassy since coming to power.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim delivered a congratulatory speech at the Russian Embassy that morning, expressing his views on "the unprecedentedly significant impact and everlasting significance of the day when the great Soviet army and people defeated fascism, and its influence on the fate and future of humanity."
He went on to declare "the steadfast position of our Party, government, and people to continuously consolidate and develop the longstanding tradition, noble ideological foundation, and invincible alliance of North Korea-Russia relations."
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on the morning of the 9th with his daughter Ju Ae to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II (Victory Day), according to Korean Central News Agency on the 9th. Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap News
Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, who accompanied Kim on this day, also remarked that "the powerful demonstration of the North Korea-Russia friendship, which has been elevated to a true comrade-in-arms relationship and a strategic partnership for the next century in this new era, clearly shows our strong will to actively promote the sovereignty and dignity of both countries, the peace and happiness of the people, and the peace and security of the region." She added, "I regard this as a historic event that will be noted in the history of relations between the two countries and peoples," and stated, "Pyongyang and Moscow will always stand together."
There has been no previous instance of Kim visiting a diplomatic mission for the purpose of offering congratulations. The only precedents for Kim's visits to foreign missions in Pyongyang are his condolence visits to the Cuban Embassy in 2016 following the death of Fidel Castro, and to the Chinese Embassy in 2018 after 32 Chinese tourists died in a traffic accident in North Korea.
North Korea made the news of Kim's visit public to coincide with the start time of Russia's military parade.
The Ministry of Unification assessed, "Despite Russia's repeated invitations for North Korea's top leadership to attend Victory Day celebrations, no such visit to Moscow has taken place. In this context, Kim Jong Un's visit to the Russian Embassy served to save face for Russia and to highlight the close relationship between the two countries both domestically and internationally."
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