North Korea deepens military ties with Russia and China amid Ukraine war

In July 2026 North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son‑hui met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, pledging Pyongyang’s support for Russia until victory in the war with Ukraine. The visit followed Premier Pak Thae Song’s trip to Beijing on July 10‑12, where he met senior Chinese official Wang Huning to mark the 65th anniversary of the 1958 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Defense between China and North Korea.

The diplomatic outreach builds on earlier high‑level exchanges, including Kim Jong Un’s visit to Beijing in September 2025 and President Xi Jin‑ping’s state visit to North Korea in June 2026. Intelligence reports say Russia has asked for an additional 30,000 North Korean troops and ballistic‑missile launchers, potentially doubling the earlier deployment. Under the 2024 mutual‑defence pact, North Korea is also transferring new long‑range ballistic missiles – the Hwasong‑15,‑17,‑18,‑19 and‑20 – capable of reaching the United States, as well as short‑range missiles aimed at South Korea and Japan. Analysts project the North Korean nuclear stockpile could exceed 100 warheads by 2030, heightening security concerns across Asia and Europe.