On Wednesday, Russia's top security official, Sergei Shoigu, visited North Korea for discussions with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un. This meeting, reported by the Russian news agency Tass, signifies the increasing alignment between the two authoritarian nations amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is led by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The talks are focused on the strategic partnership agreement that Kim and Putin established in June 2024, further solidifying their cooperation. In addition to discussing the bilateral agreement, Shoigu and Kim are expected to address "issues on the international agenda," particularly the situation surrounding Ukraine, according to reports from Russian media citing the Security Council's press team.

Sergei Shoigu, who previously served as Russia's defense minister, made his last visit to Pyongyang in late March of the same year. During this period, both North Korean and Russian military efforts were reportedly converging, notably with the Kremlin's acknowledgment in April that North Korean troops were engaged in combat alongside Russian forces to counter a Ukrainian incursion in Russia's Kursk border region.

During the April statement, President Putin commended North Korean soldiers for their support, asserting they were "shoulder to shoulder with Russian fighters," and described their actions as defending Russia's Motherland as if it were their own. This articulation of solidarity highlights the depth of the military collaboration between the two nations.

In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed in January that Ukrainian forces had successfully captured two North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside Russian troops in Kursk. This marked the first instance of such claims from Kyiv since North Korea had dispatched thousands of soldiers to bolster Moscow's military efforts in Ukraine.

This increasing military collaboration between North Korea and Russia reflects a potential shift in global power dynamics, as both nations navigate their challenges and seek mutual interests in a fragmented geopolitical landscape.