According to a rare state media announcement, Russia’s spy head traveled to Pyongyang this week to meet with his North Korean counterpart, indicating that connections between the Cold War allies are strengthening.
Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, met with North Korea’s State Security Minister Ri Chang Dae from March 25-27, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Sergei Naryshkin is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin
Both of them informed each other “on the present international and regional situation,” according to the Korean Central News Agency, “and widely and deeply discussed practical issues for further boosting cooperation to cope with the ever-growing spying and plotting moves by the hostile forces.”
According to the report, it took place alongside working-level conversations involving intelligence officers from both sides. The meetings “proceeded in a comradely and amicable atmosphere.”
Naryshkin is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, having previously served as Kremlin chief of staff before becoming speaker of Russia’s lower chamber. He has been the director of the external security service since 2016.
Foreign trips taken by senior intelligence officers are rarely broadcast in real time, unless for signaling purposes.
The Russian Foreign Ministry and North Korea’s Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to separate written requests for comment.
Strategic links between Russia and North Korea date back to the early days of the Cold War
Strategic links between Moscow and Pyongyang date back to the early days of the Cold War, when the Soviet Union was the first to publicly recognize the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 1948, later supporting the North militarily throughout the Korean War.
Russia and North Korea are still highly sanctioned, the former for its war in Ukraine and the latter for its nuclear and missile programs.
The US and its allies accuse North Korea of supplying Russia with ballistic missiles and thousands of rounds of artillery for use against Ukrainian soldiers; both governments reject the claim.
According to South Korean intelligence, the Kremlin has delivered on its commitment to aid the North’s surveillance satellite program and enhance Pyongyang’s Soviet-era military gear.
Senior US officials said they were “deeply concerned” about Putin’s blossoming friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who was invited to see Russia’s primary spaceport last October. Kim recently received a Russian-made limousine as a personal present from Putin.
Beijing, which has long fought with Moscow for influence in Pyongyang, will be watching how far the strategic ties develop.