**Russian Official Visits North Korea**
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has traveled to North Korea. He is expected to meet with the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un.
North Korea and Russia have become close military allies. North Korea supplies Russia with missiles, soldiers, and other military equipment in exchange for oil products and advanced technology.
Shoigu will likely discuss military cooperation between Russia and North Korea during his visit. This comes after high-level diplomatic talks between the two countries earlier this month.
**North Korean Troops Fighting in Ukraine**
Up to 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk Oblast since last fall. They are fighting against Ukrainian forces who crossed into Russian territory in August 2024.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that North Korean forces had suffered 4,000 casualties, with two-thirds of those being soldiers killed.
**Shoigu’s Past Role**
Sergei Shoigu previously served as Russia’s defense minister until his dismissal in May 2024. He is now responsible for national security matters as secretary of the Russian Security Council.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Shoigu on June 25, 2024, due to his role in leading Russia’s war effort.
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