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Russia defense chief Shoigu to lead military delegation to North Korea this week

State media says Russian delegation to attend Korean War anniversary events as Pyongyang prepares for military parade
Colin Zwirko July 25, 2023
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Russia defense chief Shoigu to lead military delegation to North Korea this week
Shoigu (right) with DPRK defense minister Kang Sun Nam (left) after arriving in Pyongyang | Image: Russian Ministry of Defense (July 26, 2023)

A Russian military delegation will visit Pyongyang this week to attend July 27 Korean War armistice anniversary events, North Korean state media announced Tuesday afternoon.

The “congratulatory visit” will be led by Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The news follows an announcement Monday that a Chinese Communist Party delegation will also travel to North Korea for the 70th-anniversary festivities, marking a significant shift in Pyongyang’s COVID-19 border restrictions.

Russia’s defense ministry said Tuesday that the delegation will visit from July 25 to 27, indicating North Korea has granted an exception to quarantine

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About the Author

Colin Zwirko

Colin Zwirko

Colin Zwirko is a Senior Analytic Correspondent for NK News based in Seoul. He joined the company in 2018 after receiving a master's degree in international security and foreign policy from South Korea's Yonsei University. Follow him on Bluesky / Twitter.

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