Russian top security official on special mission to North Korea

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has arrived in Pyongyang "on special instructions" from President Vladimir Putin. During his visit, he is expected to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the Russian Security Council.

This is Shoigu’s third visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in almost three months, tass.com reported. However, the report did not elaborate on the details of Shoigu's expected talks or what Putin's instructions were.

The visit follows agreements made during Shoigu’s previous trip on 4 June and is part of the implementation of the newly signed Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and the DPRK.

The report said that during that meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the senior Russian security official discussed the conflict in Ukraine, reconstruction efforts in Russia’s Kursk Region, and initiatives to honour Korean fighters.

Kim has expressed "unconditional support" for Russia's policies amid concerns by South Korean and Western officials that North Korea may be receiving Moscow's help with advanced military technology as well as economic assistance.

Britain’s Defence Ministry said in a recent report that "North Korea forces have highly likely suffered more than 6,000 casualties in offensive combat operations against Ukrainian forces in the Russian oblast of Kursk."

“The total casualties amount to more than half of the approximately 11,000 DPRK troops initially deployed to the Kursk region,” the report said. “Open-source reports suggest the DPRK has subsequently deployed limited numbers of additional troops to Kursk.”

According to the report, Shoigu has been considered as a key interlocutor with North Korea regarding its support to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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