An Afghanistan Taliban fighter and a North Korean military official meet and shake hands at joint exercises recently held in Russia. Afghanistan Ministry of National Defense X screengrab
It has been determined that Afghanistan Taliban forces and the North Korean military met and interacted at military joint exercises recently held in Russia.
On the 5th local time, according to NK News, a United States based outlet focused on North Korea, and other reports, the Ministry of National Defense of Russia stated on the 3rd that North Korea was one of 33 countries that dispatched observer delegations to the ‘Center-2026’ strategic command staff exercise. The exercise was held from late last month through the 3rd in areas including Chelyabinsk Oblast in central western Russia.
The Afghanistan Ministry of National Defense stated that at this exercise a Taliban delegation led by Commander Mawlavi Nasibullah Madani of the ‘Abdullah bin Masud Joint Combat Training Command’ under the ministry met North Korean military attaché Ro Gi-Chol. According to the Afghanistan Ministry of National Defense, Taliban representatives held discussions and exchanged views with military officials from several countries, including North Korea as well as China·India·Vietnam.
The Afghanistan Ministry of National Defense reported that the talks addressed joint cooperation options related to bilateral relations, sharing of military experience, training, and professional education. It added that participants examined advanced military technologies at a Russian weapons exhibition, including heavy weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), long range missiles, and robotic systems.
This is not the first time that North Korea has taken part as an observer in Russian military exercises. Earlier, it participated as an observer in the 2024 ‘Ocean-2024’ military exercise. North Korea is currently providing Russia with personnel and missiles in the Russia Ukraine war.
After the Soviet military withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, North Korea severed relations with the Afghan government ruled by the Taliban. Unlike Russia, which last year was the first to officially recognize the Taliban as the new government of Afghanistan, North Korea has not recognized it.
The full story
This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.
