Overview
- KCNA said a Russian delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin arrived in Pyongyang this week.
- Pak Yong-il, a senior official in North Korea’s General Political Bureau, held talks with Goremykin on expanding cooperation and exchanges between their military-political organizations.
- North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol also met the Russian delegation, and KCNA described the talks as friendly.
- South Korea’s unification ministry noted this is the first visit to North Korea by a Russian military official who heads the Main Military-Political Directorate and said it appears to reciprocate Pak’s April trip to Russia.
- KCNA did not disclose the itinerary or the purpose of the visit, while South Korea’s intelligence service reports about 5,000 North Korean construction troops have moved to Russia since September and estimates roughly 15,000 personnel sent since last year with heavy casualties.