Russian ambassador North Korea — Russia’s new ambassador to North Korea, Andrei Podelyshev, arrived in Pyongyang on Saturday, filling a post left vacant for nearly a year since his predecessor’s death. Podelyshev and his wife traveled on a direct Nordwind flight from Moscow, according to announcements from the Russian Embassy and the state news agency TASS.

The ambassador’s arrival comes as Moscow and Pyongyang have deepened their political and military cooperation, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2026. North Korea has been accused of supplying artillery shells and missiles to Russia, while Moscow has provided political cover for Pyongyang at the United Nations.

The diplomatic mission stated that Podelyshev proceeded “immediately” to the World War II liberation monument in the North Korean capital upon arrival, a symbolic gesture highlighting the historical ties between the two countries.