Overview
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Matsegora died on December 6 without disclosing a cause.
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent condolences to Vladimir Putin, calling Matsegora a close friend and saying his loss comes at a crucial phase for ties.
- Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu hailed Matsegora as a true patriot and credited his service with advancing a comprehensive strategic partnership.
- Coverage highlights his role during a period that saw a mutual-aid pact and reported North Korean troop deployments to Russia’s Kursk region.
- Appointed ambassador in 2014, he built a decades-long Korea-focused career, was seen in public the week before his death, and received the Order of Alexander Nevsky in 2024.