North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to “unconditionally support” Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine, state-run media reported Thursday. The announcement came during a meeting with Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim affirmed that North Korea would back Russia’s stance and foreign policies on key international issues, including the conflict in Ukraine. The statement underscores the strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.
Pyongyang reportedly deployed over 11,000 troops to Russia in 2024, with an additional 3,000 arriving in early 2025, a recent report from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) revealed. North Korea acknowledged for the first time in April that its troops participated in reclaiming lost territory in Russia’s Kursk Province from Ukrainian forces.
Shoigu expressed Russia’s gratitude, saying, “The Korean people’s excellent sons defended the precious part of the Russian territory as they would do their own motherland, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Russian soldiers in the same trench.” His remarks emphasize the close military collaboration in combat operations.
Beyond troop deployments, North Korea has supplied around 9 million rounds of mixed artillery ammunition, multiple rocket launcher rounds, and at least 100 ballistic missiles, according to the MSMT. This military aid has reportedly enhanced Moscow’s capacity to intensify missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, including attacks targeting critical civilian infrastructure.
Experts from South Korea, the United States, and allied nations believe that Pyongyang receives advanced weapons technology and economic support in exchange for its assistance to Russia.
During the meeting, Kim expressed confidence in Russia’s ultimate success, stating his conviction “that Russia would, as ever, surely win victory in the just and sacred cause for defending its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests.”
Article updated 3 days ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
