A Russian delegation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in North Korea on July 25 to participate in the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, BBC reports on July 26. This marks the first visit to North Korea by foreign delegations since the country closed its borders in early 2020 to curb the spread of the pandemic.
The inclusion of Chinese and Russian envoys in the "Victory Day" parade hints at a potential loosening of Covid restrictions in North Korea. The country's border closure has led to food shortages, exacerbating the impact of strict international sanctions imposed due to its nuclear program.
The Russian delegation's arrival was warmly welcomed in Pyongyang, and it is expected that the Chinese delegation, led by Li Hongzhong, will arrive on July 26. Both China and Russia have been long-time allies of North Korea, with historical support during the Korean War.
The visit of Sergei Shoigu comes amidst rising geopolitical tensions between the US and Russia over the Ukraine war, and strained relations between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan. The US has recently sought dialogue with North Korea after US soldier Travis King fled to North Korea from the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).
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