Airplanes fly in formation over Red Square in Moscow on May 5, 2025, during a rehearsal for the Victor Day military parade, in this Xinhua photo. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 6 (Korea Bizwire) — Russia said Tuesday that North Korea will be represented at the ambassador level at Victory Day celebrations in Moscow this week, with the reclusive regime’s leader, Kim Jong-un, staying at home.
Per reports out of Moscow, Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said North Korea’s ambassador will represent Pyongyang during four-day celebrations of the Soviet Union’s victory over Germany in World War II, beginning Thursday.
The annual military parade is scheduled for Friday in Moscow’s Red Square, and Ushakov said North Korean troops, confirmed in April to have fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine, will not take part in the parade.
Last Wednesday, South Korea’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), speculated that Kim would not travel to Russia for Victory Day, citing the lack of signs of security measures in preparation for Kim’s visit.
The NIS also said Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the North’s parliamentary standing committee, or other officials could instead visit Moscow for the occasion.
Kim did receive a medal commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory Day from the Russian government in March.
(Yonhap)
