Putin Meets Choe Son Hui, Says "North Korea-Russia Relations Progressing as Planned"

Possibility of Discussing a North Korea-U.S. Summit
and Kim Jong Un's Visit to Russia

On October 27 (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and stated that North Korea-Russia relations are developing as planned.

According to a video released by the Kremlin, President Putin shook hands with Foreign Minister Choe at the Kremlin that day and said, "Please convey my warm greetings to North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un."

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

President Putin referred to his summit with Chairman Kim in Beijing, China, on the 3rd of last month. He said, "We met in Beijing and had a detailed discussion about the prospects for the development of our relationship," adding, "Now, everything is proceeding as planned."

Foreign Minister Choe expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for meeting with me despite your busy schedule," and noted, "I heard the Beijing summit was held in a warm atmosphere." President Putin replied, "It really was."

After shaking hands with Shin Hong Chol, North Korean Ambassador to Russia, who accompanied Foreign Minister Choe, President Putin guided the North Korean delegation to the conference table. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov were also present at the meeting.

The Kremlin did not disclose the content of the talks between the two sides, but it is believed that President Putin and Foreign Minister Choe may have focused on North Korea-United States and United States-Russia relations during their discussions. Since U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his willingness to meet with Chairman Kim during his visit to South Korea, it is possible that Foreign Minister Choe conveyed North Korea's position regarding a North Korea-U.S. summit and listened to the Russian side's views.

On the same day, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, "Nothing has been decided yet, but if (Kim Jong Un) wants to meet, I would like to meet. If he wants to meet, I will be in South Korea."

However, there is analysis that the North Korea-U.S. summit may be difficult to realize, as Foreign Minister Choe, a key figure in North Korean diplomacy, is scheduled to make a working visit to Russia until the 28th and then attend the International Eurasian Security Conference in Minsk, Belarus, with Minister Lavrov.

Attention is also focused on whether President Putin and Foreign Minister Choe will coordinate the timing of Chairman Kim's visit to Russia. After the North Korea-Russia summit in Pyongyang in June last year, President Putin invited Chairman Kim to Moscow. He extended the invitation again when they met in China in September.

There is speculation that military issues may also have been discussed. Since the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which included mutual military assistance, in June last year, North Korea and Russia have been strengthening their military ties.

Earlier that morning, Foreign Minister Choe held talks with Minister Lavrov, discussing bilateral relations, the international situation, and coordination of actions within international organizations. Minister Lavrov expressed his gratitude for North Korea's deployment of troops to Kursk. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that during the talks, Minister Lavrov and Foreign Minister Choe reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the North Korea-Russia treaty and jointly criticized the United States and its allies as the reasons for heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the international arena.

President Putin also met with Foreign Minister Choe at the Kremlin in January and November last year. Since the strengthening of North Korea-Russia relations, Foreign Minister Choe has received exceptional treatment, meeting with President Putin on every visit to Russia.