Kyiv:North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged unconditional support for Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, further cementing Pyongyang’s strategic alliance with Moscow as the conflict drags on.
The announcement came through North Korean state media after Kim met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Pyongyang. During the talks, Kim expressed full backing for all measures taken by the Russian leadership, which he claimed address the “root cause” of the Ukrainian crisis.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) described the meeting as taking place in an atmosphere of “warm comradeship and trust.” According to Western officials, Pyongyang has sent an estimated 11,000 North Korean troops to support Russian forces on Ukraine’s frontlines over the past year.
Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and the renewed North Korean military support underscores Moscow’s push to secure additional manpower and resources.
Lavrov also held discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, praising what Russian media called “heroic” North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian troops. Kim voiced confidence that Russia would “surely achieve victory” in defending its “sacred cause” and national dignity.
The growing military cooperation follows a strategic defense pact signed between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June last year, pledging mutual support in the event of aggression against either nation.
North Korea’s support goes beyond troops — Pyongyang has also agreed to send thousands of North Korean workers to help rebuild parts of Russia’s war-damaged Kursk region, a plan revealed last month by Russian security officials.
Meanwhile, in a parallel development, US President Donald Trump has resumed American military aid to Ukraine. Trump confirmed a new deal with NATO partners to deliver Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv after a temporary halt in support.
Pyongyang first publicly admitted to sending troops to Russia in April, months after Ukrainian and Western intelligence agencies revealed large-scale North Korean military movements toward the Ukraine frontlines.
The deepening ties between North Korea and Russia are attracting growing global scrutiny, marking a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape as the war in Eastern Europe continues with new dimensions of international involvement.
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