North Korea Confirms First Troop Deployment to Russia, Marks Strategic Alliance
North Korea has confirmed for the first time that it deployed troops to Russia, framing it as part of its strategic partnership. The Central Military Commission stated this aligns with their treaty and detailed the troops’ role in operations in the Kursk area. Kim Jong-un called the soldiers ‘representatives of the nation’s honor,’ intending to honor their contributions with a monument.
In a notable development, North Korea officially confirmed on Monday that it had deployed troops to Russia for the first time. The Central Korean News Agency (KCNA) reported that a statement was sent to state media by the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party, outlining the rationale behind this military collaboration.
The statement asserts that the deployment aligns with the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between North Korea and Russia. It further described the North Korean troops’ involvement in operations in the Kursk area as a noble effort to counter what it termed Ukraine’s ‘adventurous invasion’ against Russia.
Notably, the Military Commission revealed that the troops deployed were acting under the orders of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Kim had assessed the battlefield situation and deemed it necessary to activate Article 4 of their strategic partnership treaty, which paved the way for the troops’ deployment, as conveyed in the statement.
Additionally, Kim described these troops as “representatives of the nation’s honor” and expressed plans to erect a monument in Pyongyang to commemorate their military contributions. He also announced that flowers would be laid in tribute at the graves of fallen soldiers. Meanwhile, Russian officials disclosed that they had regained full control over the Kursk border region with the assistance of these deployed North Korean forces.
This unprecedented acknowledgment from North Korea signifies a deepening military cooperation with Russia, particularly amid the ongoing conflict involving Ukraine, and marks a potential milestone in their bilateral relations.
North Korea’s first acknowledgment of troop deployment to Russia illustrates a growing military partnership between the two nations. The statements from both North Korea and Russia highlight the strategic implications of this collaboration, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As North Korea frames this deployment as a matter of national honor, it underscores the complex dynamics at play in international relations involving these countries.
Original Source: koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
