On Putin's Special Instructions, Senior Russian Officials Meet Kim Jong Un Twice

Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu/DOKmen Vadim Savitsky/TASS

JAKARTA - Senior Russian security official Sergei Shoigu held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the second time in two weeks. Shoigu admitted to carrying out a "special instruction" by President Vladimir Putin.

Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council and former defense minister who had close ties to Putin, previously visited Pyongyang and met Kim on March 21 and June 4 as Moscow and Pyongyang grew closer to facing what they said was the hostile West.

Russian government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta who reported Shoigu and Kim held extensive security consultations on Tuesday, June 17 published a video of Kim - wearing a traditional Mao suit - hugging Shoigu upon arrival before accompanying him to the hall with a long negotiating table.

"Two weeks have passed and we will meet again," Kim said.

"The president's instructions must be fulfilled," Shoigu replied, "Kim when he said that Shoigu's visit showed that the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang was getting stronger.

In a message last week, Kim referred to Putin as "his dear friend" and praised their bilateral relationship as "a true relationship between friends in arms."

Shoigu received a red carpet reception in Pyongyang and was greeted on his plane by an honorary guard and Marshal Pak Jong-chon, who occupies the second most powerful position in North Korea's closed military.

Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang on special instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin, "said a statement from the Russian Security Council.

"This agreement is being implemented within the framework of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement," the statement continued.

Kim and Putin signed a strategic partnership agreement in June last year, which includes a joint defense pact. Moscow then referred the agreement when explaining the deployment of North Korean troops to Kursk.

Rossiyskaya Gazeta said Shoigu's talks earlier this month, among others, were focused on proposals to commemorate the role of North Korean troops.

The US and South Korea say North Korea has sent ballistic missiles, anti-tank rockets, and millions of ammunition for Russia to use in its war against Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang denied the transfer of weapons.

A Reuters investigation in April 2025 found millions of North Korean bullets had reached the forefront in massive shipments by sea and then by train.

Russia previously said the two countries plan to immediately restart direct passenger train services between Moscow and Pyongyang for the first time since 2020.