North Korean Foreign Minister Heads to Russia Amid Military Collaborations.

Pyongyang: North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has embarked on an official visit to Russia, as reported by the North's state media on Tuesday. This visit coincides with the United States' announcement that North Korea has dispatched approximately 10,000 soldiers to eastern Russia for training. According to Yonhap News Agency, Choe's visit is anticipated to include discussions about a potential visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Moscow, highlighting the strengthening military ties between the two nations. Choe departed from Pyongyang International Airport on Monday, with Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu and Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora in attendance to bid her farewell. The announcement of Choe's visit comes shortly after the chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization confirmed that North Korean troops have been stationed in Russia's western front-line Kursk region. This deployment is perceived as a measure to bolster Russia's military efforts in the near futur e. The Russian Embassy in North Korea characterized Choe's visit as part of a "strategic dialogue" agreed upon by both countries' leaders. The embassy indicated on its Facebook account that the discussions align with a new treaty, which entails regular high-level diplomatic consultations on bilateral relations and international politics. Speculation abounds that Choe's visit may involve negotiations with Russian officials to coordinate a potential visit by Kim to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The agenda might also include formulating a joint response strategy to international criticism regarding North Korea's troop deployment to Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Hyun Seung-soo, deputy director of the Korea Institute for National Unification, commented on the possibility of discussions surrounding a joint strategy following the U.S. presidential election, as well as planning for Kim's visit to Russia, which could occur as soon as next year. North Korea and Russi a have been enhancing their military and broader cooperative efforts, with Kim and Putin having conducted summit talks in June in Pyongyang. During those talks, they signed a new partnership treaty that includes a mutual defense provision. The North Korean foreign minister's last visit to Russia was in September, following a visit to Moscow in January where she met with President Putin.