Russian and Chinese Delegations To Attend 'Victory Day' in North Korea
Russian-North Korean Military Ties Strengthen
Overt Operator
July 26, 2023
Amid the global tension surrounding the pandemic and geopolitical shifts, a Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is set to visit North Korea this week. The Russian group will join a Chinese delegation in the first public visit to the country since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday.
Both delegations are traveling to celebrate the 70th anniversary of “Victory Day” in Pyongyang, as reported by state media agency KCNA. Li Hongzhong, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo, will lead the Chinese group.
The Russian delegation, visiting from Tuesday to Thursday, was invited by its North Korean counterpart to participate in the Victory Day events.
The Russian Defense Ministry noted in a statement:
“This visit will contribute to strengthening Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries.”
North Korea had shut its borders to all trade and diplomatic exchanges in early 2020 due to the pandemic, even with its main economic and political partners, China and Russia. The state media did not indicate whether these visits represent a policy shift.
The 70th Victory Day anniversary celebrations are anticipated to include a significant military parade in the capital, Pyongyang.
On Monday, China stated its strict implementation of U.N. sanctions on North Korea. This came in response to a letter from the Group of Seven, European Union, and others, urging Beijing to prevent Pyongyang from circumventing the sanctions by utilizing Chinese waters.
Nonetheless, China's exports to North Korea in June were eight fold higher than the same time last year, when the hermetic state was reporting tens of thousands of daily COVID-19 cases and its border was sealed.
The U.S., in the meantime, has alleged that North Korea has been providing military aid to Russia for the war in Ukraine, a claim both Pyongyang and Moscow dismiss.
Russia and North Korea, both having strained relations with the U.S., have long sustained friendly ties. Moscow has also attempted to mediate a resolution on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.
U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson, Vedant Patel, emphasized on Tuesday that both Russia and China could wield their influence over North Korea to deter threatening, unlawful behavior. He further added:
“They also have a potential role to play in encouraging the DPRK to return to the negotiating table.”’