South Korea and Russia recently conducted rare, undisclosed talks on the North Korean nuclear issue amid ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. A senior South Korean Foreign Ministry official visited Moscow for the discussions and met with Oleg Burmistrov, Russia’s ambassador-at-large for North Korean nuclear affairs, though details of the meeting were not disclosed.
The talks come after a period of frozen communication between the two nations on North Korean matters, which followed South Korea’s confirmation of Pyongyang’s troop deployment to support Russia in October 2024. South Korean Ambassador to Russia, Lee Sok-bae, has maintained contact with Russian Foreign Ministry officials, further signaling ongoing diplomatic engagement.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized that it remains focused on halting North Korea-Russia cooperation that violates UN Security Council resolutions, encouraging Russia to take a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Officials also indicated that discussions will continue in non-sensitive areas, exploring gradual cooperation within existing constraints, including sanctions on Russia. The meeting highlights Seoul’s strategic planning for post-Ukraine war scenarios and potential opportunities for renewed U.S.–North Korea dialogue.