Pyongyang extended invitations to a Russian delegation led by Mr. Shoigu, along with Chinese officials, to attend the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. The event usually involves grand military parades. Among the showcased weapons was the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was successfully tested in April and is believed to be North Korea’s first ICBM utilizing solid propellants for quicker launch capability compared to liquid-fuel systems.
Additionally, two new drone designs were on display, with one resembling a primary offensive strike drone used by the US Air Force, according to NK News, a specialized North Korea-focused site. During Mr. Shoigu’s visit, discussions between him and Kim Jong Un covered topics related to national defense and the international security environment, as reported by North Korea’s KCNA news agency.
The visit by the Russian and Chinese delegations for North Korea’s Victory Day, which marks the 1953 end of hostilities, is expected to conclude with an extensive military parade. It’s worth noting that technically, North and South Korea are still in a state of war as no formal peace agreement was reached when the hostilities ceased.
Both Russia and China have been long-time allies of North Korea. This visit represents the first time since the Covid pandemic that Kim Jong Un has welcomed foreign guests to the country. The previous instance of inviting foreign government delegates for a military parade took place in February 2018.
According to KCNA, Mr. Kim engaged in a “friendly talk” with Mr. Shoigu, who presented him with an autographed letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Kim Jong Un praised North Korea’s military as “the most powerful” in the world. Additionally, the Chinese delegation, led by politburo member Li Hongzhong, delivered a personal letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Mr. Kim.
In his discussion with Mr. Li, Kim expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Chinese People’s Volunteers during the Korean War, emphasizing that the Korean people will always remember their sacrifices in achieving victory.
Notably, both China and the Soviet Union (now Russia) had supported North Korea during the war. Since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia has continued to be a natural ally for North Korea due to their shared antipathy towards the United States.
The inclusion of Chinese and Russian envoys in this year’s Victory Day parade is seen by some analysts as a potential signal of a relaxation of Covid restrictions in North Korea. This speculation arises after recent state media images showed North Koreans without masks, indicating a possible shift in the country’s approach to handling the pandemic.
In early 2020, North Korea isolated itself from all trade and diplomatic ties, even with its main economic and political partners, Russia and China.