Who is Jo Yong-won, and what is he doing in Russia?

Jo Yong-won is secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party and is considered one of Kim Jong-un’s closest aides. He arrived in Moscow leading a party and government delegation invited by United Russia chairman Dmitry Medvedev.

Why are North Korea and Russia deepening ties?

The visit comes amid closer relations following North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. North Korean state media described the countries’ friendship and alliance as being further cemented.

What prompted speculation that Kim Jong-un might visit Moscow this year?

Speculation surfaced after North Korea’s foreign minister made a surprise visit to Russia in July. Jo Yong-won’s trip also comes days before the U.S., Chinese and Russian presidents are set to meet on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen.

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

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Summary

Jo Yong-won, a close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, arrived in Moscow on Saturday leading a party and government delegation, North Korean state media said Sunday. The visit comes as North Korea and Russia deepen ties following Pyongyang’s troop deployment in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The delegation was invited by Dmitry Medvedev, chairman of Russia’s ruling United Russia party. Jo’s trip comes days before the leaders of the United States, China and Russia are set to meet on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen this week.

Key Facts

Jo is secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party.
The delegation traveled to Moscow by private plane on Saturday.
Andrei Klimov, a member of United Russia’s Supreme Council and first vice chairman of the State Duma’s International Affairs Committee, and North Korean Ambassador to Moscow Sin Hong-chol greeted the delegation at the airport.
Speculation about a possible Kim visit to Moscow this year surfaced after North Korea’s foreign minister made a surprise visit to Russia in July.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 15, 2026 11:17 am KST

Jo Yong Won, center, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, who leads the DPRK party and government delegation, leaves for a trip to Russia at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, Saturday. AFP-Yonhap

A North Korean official considered to be one of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's closest aides has arrived in Russia, the North's state media said Sunday, amid deepening relations between the two countries following North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine.

Jo Yong-won, secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, arrived in Moscow by private plane on Saturday, leading a party and government delegation, the Korean Central News Agency said.

The visit comes at "a time when the militant friendship, friendship and relations of alliance between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation with independence and justice as their common ideal are being further cemented with each passing day," it said in an English dispatch.

The delegation was invited by Dmitry Medvedev, chairman of Russia's ruling United Russia party. They were greeted at the airport by Andrei Klimov, a member of the party's Supreme Council and first vice chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, as well as North Korean Ambassador to Moscow Sin Hong-chol.

Speculation that Kim could visit Moscow this year surfaced when North Korea's foreign minister made a surprise visit to Russia in July.

Jo's trip comes days before US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, this week.

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