MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MAY 28, 2025) (PRESS CENTER INTERNATIONAL RUSSIA - RESTRICTED) RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “PRESS CENTER INTERNATIONAL RUSSIA” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST: 1. RUSSIA SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY SERGEI SHOIGU SHAKING HANDS WITH NORTH KOREA'S STATE SECURITY MINISTER RI CHANG-DAE 2. ATTENDEES AT MEETING HALL 3. RUSSIA SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY, SHOIGU SPEAKING 4. VARIOUS OF NORTH KOREA'S STATE SECURITY MINISTER RI CHANG-DAE 5. RUSSIA SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY, SHOIGU SPEAKING (Russian) / TRANSLATOR SPEAKS IN KOREAN MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MAY 28 - RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “PRESS CENTER INTERNATIONAL RUSSIA” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu expressed gratitude on Wednesday to North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces in the defense of the Kursk region as if it were their own homeland during Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine. "I would like to express my special gratitude for the feat of Korean soldiers who stood shoulder to shoulder with Russian fighters to defend the Kursk Region as their own homeland," Shoigu was quoted by the Russian state-run Tass news agency as saying during his meeting with North Korea's State Security Minister Ri Chang-dae. Shoigu also mentioned the recent Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9, which featured North Korean combat commanders, saying, "It was gratifying to see television footage of President (Vladimir) Putin warmly greeting the DPRK military commanders on Red Square." DPRK stands for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. Shoigu emphasized the strength of bilateral ties, saying, "In the development of the agreements reached between President Putin and (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un, we will continue to work to perpetuate the memory of our Korean brothers who died in the fight." North Korea is also providing Russia with advanced weapons, such as 240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled artillery.