North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un likely to visit Russia in May, Moscow says

Kim Jong-un may visit Russia in May, according to statements from Russian officials, as the two countries continue to strengthen military and diplomatic ties. The Kim Jong-un Russia visit is currently under discussion, though the exact date has not been finalized.

Russia Confirms 2025 Visit Plans

On March 27, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told state-run TASS News Agency that Kim Jong-un will visit Russia sometime in 2025. “We are currently negotiating the visit’s details, including timing and the program,” Rudenko said.

The announcement follows Rudenko’s March 15 visit to Pyongyang, where he met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, they discussed high-level exchanges, including Kim’s possible visit and a planned trip by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to North Korea later this year.

Victory Day or Eastern Forum?

Russia has not officially confirmed the date of Kim’s visit. However, speculation points to May 9, when Moscow will mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, as a potential window. In 2001, Kim’s father, Kim Jong-il, traveled to Moscow by train to attend Victory Day events.

There is also a possibility that Kim Jong-un will visit during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September. In past visits, Kim has only met President Vladimir Putin in Russia’s Far East region, further supporting this option.

If a summit occurs in 2025, it will mark the third consecutive year of North Korea–Russia summits—following meetings in Russia’s Far East in 2023 and in Pyongyang in 2024.

Strengthening Military Ties

South Korea’s Unification Ministry commented on the deepening ties, saying, “Russia has become the central focus of North Korea’s diplomacy.” A ministry official added that Pyongyang is expanding exchanges in an effort to maximize its returns for military support.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), North Korea deployed an additional 3,000 troops to Russia in early 2025, bringing the total number of deployed troops to around 11,000. Roughly 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded, the JCS reported on March 27.

In addition to troops, North Korea continues to supply short-range ballistic missiles, 170mm self-propelled guns, and 240mm multiple rocket launchers. Officials estimate more than 220 artillery units have been delivered, with further support possible depending on battlefield conditions.

By Mooyoung Lee  [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]