Top Russia official discussed Ukraine with North Korean leader Kim, TASS says

By Jack Kim and Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu discussed Ukraine with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the TASS news agency reported on Friday, his latest visit amid advances in security ties between the countries.

Dialogue between Russia and the United States was among the issues discussed with Kim, Shoigu told reporters, according to TASS.

His trip comes after Putin recently agreed to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily, but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean officials have said North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 troops who were sent into combat in Russia's eastern Kursk region, and also shipped heavy weapons including artillery and ballistic missiles.

North Korea is believed to have received military and civilian technology and economic assistance from Moscow in return.

Moscow and Pyongyang initially dismissed reports of the deployment, but in October 2024 Putin did not deny that North Korean troops were in Russia, and a North Korean official has said any such move would be lawful.

Last year, Russia and North Korea signed a landmark treaty that includes a mutual defence provision.

North Korean state media KCNA reported on the arrival of a delegation led by Shoigu, greeted by senior government officials and Moscow's ambassador in Pyongyang.

The former defence minister earlier made visits to Pyongyang as North Korea geared up to deploy troops to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Shoigu said his talks with Kim were lengthy and lasted more than two hours, TASS said.

(Reporting by Jack Kim, Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies, Stephen Coates and Alex Richardson)