North Korea’s Kim Declares Unconditional Support for Russia’s War in Ukraine
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has pledged unconditional support for Russia’s war in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. This reflects an increasing partnership between the two nations, with discussions about military cooperation, troop deployments, and the situation in Ukraine. Both leaders emphasized strategic ties amid concerns over North Korea’s nuclear program.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared that his nation will unconditionally back Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, as reported by the North’s state media on Thursday. This announcement indicates a strengthening of ties between North Korea and Russia amidst the conflict. Kim’s commitment was made during a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang on Wednesday, further emphasizing their collaboration on an international scale.
Last April, North Korea officially recognized the deployment of its troops to Russia—the first of its kind—marking a significant step where soldiers from both nations were reported to be fighting together against Ukraine in the Kursk border area. President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude towards North Korea during that announcement, vowing to remember their contributions to the efforts in this conflict.
During the recent talks, Kim stressed North Korea’s “unconditional support” for Russia’s foreign policies, especially concerning the Ukraine situation. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) mentioned that both leaders discussed ways to strengthen their nations’ strategic partnership and reached an agreement on their positions regarding the Ukrainian situation, though further details were not provided.
According to Russia’s state news agency, TASS, Shoigu and Kim also talked about the future of the Kursk region, with plans to honor North Korean soldiers’ contributions to the conflict. While Russia claimed in April that it had fully regained control over the Kursk area, Ukraine maintains that its military is still present there, as echoed by Oleksandr Syrskyi, the head of Ukraine’s army, who stated recently that Ukrainian forces continue to defend territory in this contested region.
Shoigu had previously visited North Korea in March for discussions with Kim. The exact number of North Korean troops currently in Russia remains unclear. U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence sources suggest that North Korea sent between 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia last fall—their first involvement in a significant military conflict since the Korean War in the early 1950s. More recently, South Korean officials have reported the arrival of approximately 3,000 additional North Korean troops this year.
Beyond troop deployments, North Korea has been providing Russia with substantial amounts of conventional weaponry. Reports suggest that Russia, in turn, may be offering economic and military aid to North Korea, raising concerns among South Korean and U.S. officials about the potential transfer of advanced technologies that could advance North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, posing a threat to its adversaries.
In summary, North Korea continues to affirm its solidarity with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine, showcasing a deepening partnership that raises international concerns. The movement of North Korean troops into Russia and the exchange of military resources highlight a significant shift in their historical relations. Moreover, these developments could potentially escalate threats, particularly regarding North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, leaving global observers wary.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
