Vladimir Putin awkwardly shakes North Korean minister's hand for an entire minute
Putin meets North Korean foreign minister in Moscow
GB NEWS
Vladimir Putin met North Korea's foreign minister on Monday, greeting her with an unusually long handshake that lasted a full minute.
The meeting, which took place in Moscow on Russia's National Unity Day, has raised eyebrows amidst growing concerns about North Korean involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
Video footage showed Putin gripping Choe Son Hui's hand for an extended period, causing the 60-year-old diplomat to appear visibly uncomfortable. Handshaking is not a widespread custom in North Korea.
The prolonged greeting has been interpreted as a power play by Putin, expressing gratitude for North Korea's reported military support in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin shook Choe Son Hui's hand for exactly a minute
REUTERS
North Korean support for Russia's war effort has become increasingly apparent, with reports suggesting the deployment of 11,000 troops to the Kursk region in western Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised alarm over the development, stating: "As for the North Korean troops in Russia, there are already 11,000 in the Kursk region."
The North Korean soldiers are thought to be wearing Russian uniforms and have already engaged in combat.
Andrii Kovalenko, from Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, confirmed: "The first ones have already been under fire."
During her meeting with Putin, Choe Son Hui conveyed a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, pledging unwavering support for Russia's "holy war".
She stated: "We have no doubt that under the wise leadership of the respected President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the Russian army and people will certainly achieve a great victory."
Ukraine has expressed deep concern over North Korea's involvement in the conflict. Zelensky warned about the dangers of escalation without further support from the West.
He said: "We see an increase in North Koreans and we do not see an increase in the reaction of our [Western] partners."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha discussed the "need for decisive action" with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in response to North Korean involvement in Ukraine.
Sybiha emphasised that North Korean troops were waging "an aggressive war in Europe against a sovereign European state".
South Korea and the European Union have jointly condemned North Korea's "unlawful arms transfers to the Russian Federation" and demanded the withdrawal of its troops.
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