N. Korean leader's close aide visits Russia amid deepening bilateral ties

Seoul, November 15 - A high-ranking North Korean official, believed to be a close aide to leader Kim Jong-un, has arrived in Russia, according to the North's state-run media. The visit took place on Saturday, accompanied by a delegation of party and government officials, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency. The delegation's arrival coincides with the strengthening of ties between North Korea and Russia, following North Korea's decision to deploy troops in support of Russia's military campaign against Ukraine.

Jo Yong-won, the secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, led the delegation. They received a warm welcome from Dmitry Medvedev, chairman of Russia's ruling United Russia party, at the airport. Andrei Klimov, a member of the party's Supreme Council and first vice chairman of the State Duma's International Affairs Committee, also met the North Korean delegation.

Jo's visit comes amid rumors that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may pay an official visit to Russia later this year, following a surprise trip by North Korea's foreign minister to Moscow in July. The timing of Jo's arrival is also noteworthy, as it precedes a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, this week.