Jo Yong Won, a senior Workers’ Party official regarded as one of Kim Jong Un’s closest aides, left Pyongyang by air on November 14 at the head of a party and government delegation bound for Russia. North Korea did not disclose the delegation’s itinerary or the length of its stay.
- Delegation leader
- Jo Yong Won
- Departure date
- November 14, 2026
- Destination
- Russia
- Invited by
- Dmitry Medvedev
The visit followed an invitation from Dmitry Medvedev, who leads Russia’s ruling United Russia party. Jo is expected to meet Medvedev and reaffirm the two governments’ stated intention to strengthen bilateral relations, although no meeting outcome or new agreement had been announced when the delegation departed.
A senior party channel for bilateral ties
Jo’s position gives the trip political weight beyond a routine exchange. He has served on the Workers’ Party’s senior decision-making bodies, including its Politburo Presidium and Central Military Commission, and has held responsibility for party organization. In 2026, he was elected chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly before moving to a party secretary role in June.
Senior officials attended the departure ceremony in Pyongyang. They included Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, Workers’ Party international secretary Kim Song Nam and the Russian ambassador to North Korea. Their presence underscored that the trip is being conducted through both party and government channels.
The available information supports viewing the visit as another step in expanding political contacts between North Korea and Russia, but it does not establish that the delegation will conclude military, economic or other substantive agreements. The delegation’s schedule, the subjects discussed with Russian officials and any joint statement or signed arrangement remain the key details to watch.