Kyiv: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged unconditional support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, reaffirming a growing military and political alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow.
The statement was reported by North Korean state media following Kim’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the capital. During the high-level talks, Kim stated that North Korea backed all the measures taken by the Russian leadership in addressing what he called the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis.
The meeting was described by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) as taking place in an atmosphere of warm comradeship and trust. Western officials estimate that Pyongyang has dispatched around 11,000 troops to support Russian forces in Ukraine over the past year. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Lavrov also held discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and praised the heroic North Korean soldiers aiding Russian efforts, according to Russia’s news agency. Kim voiced confidence in Russia’s campaign, saying he had a firm belief that the Russian army and people would surely achieve victory in accomplishing the sacred cause of defending the dignity and basic interests of the country.
The renewed military cooperation follows Kim’s strategic accord signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June last year, in which both nations agreed to sustain each other in the event of aggression.
Beyond troop support, North Korea has also dedicated to sending thousands of workers to aid reconstruction efforts in Russia’s war-damaged Kursk region, as revealed last month by Moscow’s security chief.
Meanwhile, in a parallel development, US President Donald Trump has resumed American military support to Ukraine. Trump confirmed that the US had struck a deal with NATO to provide Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, following a pause in military aid.
Pyongyang first publicly acknowledged its deployment of troops to Russia in April, months after Kyiv and Western intelligence agencies disclosed large-scale North Korean troop movements to the frontlines. The deepening partnership between North Korea and Russia is drawing increasing global scrutiny, as it marks a significant geopolitical shift with ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe.
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