On June 17 (local time), Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has decided to dispatch 6,000 engineering and military construction personnel to Russia’s Kursk region.
According to RIA Novosti, Secretary Shoigu, who is visiting North Korea, made this statement to Russian media reporters after meeting with Chairman Kim in Pyongyang.
He stated that Chairman Kim has agreed to send 1,000 engineering troops to remove landmines buried in Russian territory, and to dispatch 5,000 military construction personnel to help rebuild infrastructure destroyed by Ukrainian attacks.
Secretary Shoigu said that discussing security issues was the main purpose of his visit to North Korea. He noted that both sides highly valued the exchange of personnel between Russia and North Korea, especially the cooperation in Kursk. He also expressed hope that air service between Russia and North Korea, which has been suspended for more than 30 years, would resume.
Secretary Shoigu cited the example of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea in June last year, during which a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty was signed. He emphasized, "The anniversary of the signing of this treaty is in two days," and added, "This treaty is being implemented not only on paper, but also in real action."
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