North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his country’s “unconditional support” for Russia‘s actions in the Ukraine war, state media reports. The statement came during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Wonsan, North Korea, where both leaders pledged to deepen their strategic partnership.
Kim told Lavrov that North Korea stands firmly behind “all the measures taken by the Russian leadership” aimed at addressing the “root cause of the Ukrainian crisis”. The North Korean leader also expressed a “firm belief that the Russian army and people would surely win victory in accomplishing the sacred cause of defending the dignity and basic interests of the country”.
The meeting between Kim and Lavrov highlights the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Pyongyang has deployed over 10,000 troops and supplied arms to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine. According to Western officials, North Korea has dispatched around 11,000 troops to support Russian operations over the past year. Russia, in turn, has voiced strong opposition to any attempt to undermine North Korea’s security.
Lavrov, during his visit, warned the US, South Korea, and Japan against forming a trilateral security alliance aimed at countering North Korea. He described the relationship between North Korea and Russia as an “invincible fighting brotherhood” and pledged continued opposition to any moves that threaten North Korea’s security.
The talks between Kim and Lavrov covered implementing agreements made at last year’s DPRK-Russia summit talks and ways to deepen their countries’ strategic partnership under their mutual defense treaty. Russia’s foreign ministry posted a video on Telegram showing the two men shaking hands and greeting each other with a hug, symbolizing their warm comradely trust.
The deepening alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang comes as both nations face intensifying pressure from Western countries. Russia has announced plans to begin twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang, further solidifying their cooperation. North Korea has also agreed to send 6,000 military engineers and construction workers to aid reconstruction efforts in war-damaged areas of Russia, particularly Kursk.