A senior North Korean military official has described the country’s relationship with Russia as a “strategic alliance and brotherly partnership”, during a visit to Moscow this week, signalling a strengthening of bilateral military ties ahead of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on 9 May.
Pak Yong-il, Deputy Director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, made the remarks on Wednesday at the third International Anti-Fascist Forum, according to reports published Friday by North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun and Russian state media.
Speaking as head of a North Korean military delegation, Pak stated that Pyongyang “will continue to confidently exercise its sovereign right to self-defence in response to the extremely dangerous and confrontational acts of hostile forces attempting to revive fascism in the Asia-Pacific region”.
Pak also reaffirmed North Korea’s long-standing position of supporting what it calls an “independent and just multipolar world order free from domination, subjugation and hegemony.”
In remarks reported by Russian state news agency TASS, Pak described the Russian military’s recent retaking of Kursk, presumably referencing events in Ukraine, as “a triumph of justice over pure evil”. He added that current ties between North Korea and Russia represented “a new chapter in history proving the strong military partnership between the two nations” and characterised the relationship as a “top-level strategic alliance and brotherhood”.
The statements come ahead of Russia’s annual Victory Day, a high-profile event commemorating the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany. Analysts say the timing of the remarks suggests a coordinated effort to underscore the deepening ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Strategic Calculations
The visit and rhetoric appear to reflect a shift in North Korea’s foreign policy posture. While the United States has traditionally been Pyongyang’s primary strategic concern, recent statements from North Korean officials suggest a broader recalibration.
On 9 April, Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers’ Party of Korea and sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, declared denuclearisation to be “an impossible delusion”. Although she refrained from directly naming former U.S. President Donald Trump, the tone of the statement indicates a continued hardening of the regime’s stance, even as it appears to keep open the possibility of future engagement.
The alignment with Moscow may serve as both a strategic hedge and a diplomatic signal, particularly if negotiations with Washington remain stalled.
Potential Presence at Victory Day Parade
There is speculation that North Korea could mark its support for Russia with a high-level delegation at the upcoming Victory Day parade in Moscow. Should Choe Ryong-hae, President of the Standing Committee of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, attend the event, it would represent a significant demonstration of political and military alignment.
South Korean intelligence officials, however, have downplayed the likelihood of Kim Jong-un himself appearing at the event, noting that Pyongyang generally avoids multilateral summits and that there have been no signs of large-scale parade preparations in the North.
North Korea last took part in the Victory Day celebrations in 2015, when a delegation led by then-Supreme People’s Assembly head Kim Yong-nam visited Moscow. Observers note that current Russia–North Korea relations are considerably deeper than at that time.
Reports also suggest that North Korean troops remain in Russia, either undergoing adaptation training or deployed closer to operational zones in Ukraine. This, combined with Pak’s remarks and Putin’s recent expression of gratitude to Kim Jong-un for military support, has fuelled speculation that North Korean personnel could participate directly in the parade.
Experts have not ruled out the possibility of a “surprise event”, such as North Korean troops, described as “war heroes”, marching alongside Russian soldiers in Red Square.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at such a scenario earlier this week, stating he “deeply values the participation of foreign military units marching shoulder to shoulder with the Russian army”. Delegations from North Korea, China, Belarus, and Vietnam attended the same forum.
