Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in North Korea on July 11, 2025, marking a significant diplomatic step in the deepening alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang. The visit follows the two countries’ recent mutual defense treaty and signals closer military and economic cooperation amid growing tensions with Western powers.

Lavrov landed in the eastern port city of Wonsan after attending the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Malaysia. He is scheduled to spend three days in North Korea, during which he will meet his counterpart, North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Son Hui. Discussions are expected to revolve around the war in Ukraine, regional security on the Korean Peninsula, and broader strategic cooperation.

This visit comes just weeks after the new Russia–North Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty came into effect, committing both nations to mutual defense and closer political alignment. South Korean intelligence agencies estimate that more than 10,000 North Korean troops have already been deployed to support Russian operations in Ukraine. Furthermore, Pyongyang reportedly plans to send 6,000 military engineers and construction workers to assist with infrastructure rebuilding in Russia’s war-affected Kursk region.

Beyond military cooperation, the two sides are exploring expanded economic and civilian ties. Proposals include resuming the long-suspended Moscow–Pyongyang train service, constructing a new coastal resort in Wonsan, and building a strategic bridge across the Tumen River at the junction of Russia, North Korea, and China.

Lavrov’s North Korea visit is part of a broader diplomatic campaign by Moscow to strengthen ties with countries opposed to Western sanctions and NATO expansion. After concluding his engagements in North Korea, Lavrov will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on July 13–14.

In response to these developments, South Korea, Japan, and the United States conducted a joint air drill on July 11, featuring a U.S. B-52H strategic bomber. The trilateral exercise was seen as a direct countermeasure to the increasingly close military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko confirmed that more high-level Russian delegations are expected to visit North Korea later in the year, further solidifying the trajectory of this strategic partnership.

The growing alignment between Russia and North Korea is drawing international concern, particularly among Western allies, as it signals a potential long-term reshaping of global security dynamics. With both nations facing increased isolation from the West, their alliance is expected to intensify in both military and economic dimensions.