Observers say that North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, who paid an official visit to Russia on the 18th, may coordinate Kim Jong Un's schedule for a visit to Russia. North Korea and Russia are expected to hold their third strategic dialogue through this visit, following the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June 2024. As North Korea-Russia alignment deepens, Russia expressed displeasure toward South Korea for strengthening defense industry cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on the 19th that on the 18th Choe departed Pyongyang to visit Russia at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The paper did not disclose the purpose or itinerary of her visit. This is Choe's first visit to Russia in nine months since last October.

The government believes the two countries will hold a third strategic dialogue during Choe's stay in Russia. After signing in June 2024 a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty tantamount to an alliance, the two foreign ministers met in November 2024 and last July for the first and second strategic dialogues. At the second dialogue, held in Wonsan, North Korea, last July, the two agreed to strengthen strategic communication and military alignment.

There is also speculation that they may discuss Kim's schedule for a visit to Russia during this trip. President Vladimir Putin asked Kim to pay a return visit at the Pyongyang summit in June 2024 and at China's Victory Day military parade last September.

The visit is also noteworthy because it comes as North Korea strengthens ties with China. North Korea is expected to say that, despite deepening relations with China, the North Korea-Russia 'blood alliance' will not be affected. Marking the 65th anniversary of the North Korea-China Treaty of Friendship this year, the two sides followed President Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang last month with continued high-level exchanges this month.

Meanwhile, Russia voiced displeasure toward South Korea for strengthening defense industry cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). On the 17th, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with South Korean Ambassador to Russia Lee Seok-bae. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the 17th that Russia had expressed serious concern about South Korea moving to continuously strengthen ties with NATO.

In the meeting, Ambassador Lee was said to have emphasized to the Russian side that South Korea's relations with NATO are cooperation aimed at participating in the defense industry market rather than an alliance, while also expressing concern over North Korea-Russia military cooperation. An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, because the Russia-Ukraine war and North Korea-Russia military cooperation negatively affect international peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, they will monitor developments and work closely with the international community.