The potential deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine has resurfaced following a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Pyongyang.
During his talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Lavrov indicated that the issue had been raised, as part of wider discussions on expanding military and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Lavrov’s visit marks a continuation of high-level exchanges between Moscow and Pyongyang, which have intensified over recent months. It follows earlier visits by former Russian Defence Minister and current Secretary of the Security Council Sergey Shoigu. Shoiguās trips were understood to focus on securing North Korean arms supplies for use by Russian forces in Ukraine.
Unlike Shoigu, Lavrovās agenda included broader diplomatic and regional security topics. He praised his personal rapport with Kim and emphasised the strategic depth of Moscow-Pyongyang ties. Among the key themes discussed was the evolving security dynamic in the Asia-Pacific region, with both parties signalling an interest in jointly shaping outcomes favourable to their geopolitical interests.
Analysts interpret these discussions as extending beyond bilateral matters, suggesting coordination on strategies that could contribute to regional destabilisation in line with shared objectives between Russia, North Korea, and potentially China. The timing of Lavrovās visit is seen as particularly significant, occurring amid a clear improvement in relations between Pyongyang and Beijing.
In recent years, ties between North Korea and China had cooled, with senior DPRK officials reportedly absent from Chinese state events. However, renewed appearances by North Korean leaders at the Chinese embassy suggest that prior tensions have receded, at least in formal diplomatic terms. This thaw may reflect a common alignment around supporting Russia in its confrontation with the West, particularly in Ukraine.
During recent talks with European Union leaders, China reportedly communicated its position through Foreign Minister Wang Yi, indicating that Beijing would not accept a Russian defeat in Ukraine. The South China Morning Post cited sources familiar with those discussions as saying that China views a Russian success as advantageous to its own standing in Europe and detrimental to Western influence.
The emerging trilateral dynamic ā involving Russia, North Korea, and China ā appears aimed not only at sustaining Russiaās military campaign but also at countering United States influence in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific. While U.S. President Donald Trump has shown less inclination towards assertive foreign policy in the region, the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea remains a key point of contention for Pyongyang.
For North Korea, participation in the conflict in Ukraine may serve as a live-fire training opportunity for its military. Observers suggest that Kim Jong-un could be using the war to prepare his armed forces for a potential future conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Official rhetoric from Pyongyang no longer includes references to peaceful reunification, and instead frames South Korea as a separate and hostile state.
This change in tone has led to growing speculation that North Korea may consider military action against the South. In that context, cooperation with Russia could serve multiple purposes: strengthening Pyongyangās defence industry, gaining combat experience for its troops, and securing economic and political support from Moscow in return.
Russia, increasingly isolated in the West since its annexation of Crimea in 2014, has continued to pivot eastward. This geopolitical reorientation has accelerated in recent years, and Lavrovās engagements in Asia form part of a broader shift. The Kremlin now appears to consider its European identity defunct, viewing itself instead as a member of the so-called āGlobal Southā, where it aligns with authoritarian states including North Korea and Iran.
Kim, for his part, is reportedly receiving significant support from Moscow ā including funding for domestic projects such as resort developments ā in exchange for military assistance and political alignment. These developments suggest a deepening relationship based not only on tactical necessity but also on shared strategic calculations.
The Lavrov-Kim meeting, therefore, cannot be viewed merely as a ceremonial or symbolic gesture. It reflects a concerted effort by both parties to redefine regional power balances and challenge the established international order. The inclusion of North Korean forces in the Ukraine conflict, if it materialises, would mark a further internationalisation of the war and could prompt serious concern in Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington.
In this context, the RussiaāNorth Korea dialogue has implications that extend well beyond Ukraine. It forms part of a wider effort to reshape global alliances, test Western resolve, and assert alternative models of power projection based not on economic capacity or diplomatic standing, but on coercion, military force, and disregard for the human cost.
