Senior officials with South Korea's Institute for National Security Strategy, affiliated with the National Intelligence Service, visited Russia in the first half of 2026, according to Korea Joongang Daily sources on Oct. 13. INSS and South Korea's Ministry of Unification on Oct. 13 said the visit was an academic exchange and not related to the NIS, adding that the INSS conveyed South Korea's concerns about Russian transfers of military tech to North Korea.