North Korean Foreign Minister Travels to Russia for Women’s Forum Amid Warming Ties
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has departed for Saint Petersburg, Russia, to attend the fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum and the BRICS Women’s Forum, Reuters reports, citing a statement released by the Russian embassy in North Korea.
The embassy confirmed that Choe Son Hui was seen off at the Pyongyang International Airport by Russian Ambassador Alexander Ivanovich Matsegora. The minister is expected to deliver speeches and participate in discussions at the forum, which will take place from September 18 to 20.
Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, announced in June that delegations from nearly a hundred countries are expected to attend the forum. She expressed hopes for “record foreign representation” at this year’s event.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended previous editions of the forum, his participation in this year’s gathering is yet to be confirmed by the Kremlin.
The visit comes at a time of heightened diplomatic activity between Russia and North Korea. Earlier this year, Putin signed a deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to Pyongyang. The deal included a mutual defense pledge.
The US and its allies have claimed that North Korea has been providing weapons to Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine, in exchange for economic and military aid. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied these allegations.
