North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accused the US and other Western countries of deliberately prolonging the military conflict between Moscow and Kiev to achieve the “unrealizable dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia”.
The army and people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) “will always support and promote the just cause of the Russian army and the Russian people in defense of their sovereignty, security and territorial integrity”, Kim said, recalling the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Russia, signed in June 2024 during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang. The agreement was ratified by both sides in November of last year.
Kim stated that Pyongyang rejects “actions that contravene international justice and world peace”.
Independently, Kim criticized the trilateral military cooperation between the US, Japan and South Korea, saying it would lead to increased tensions. He vowed to take countermeasures, including the further development of nuclear weapons, as reported by Reuters.
South Korean, US and Ukrainian authorities have reported, citing satellite images and intelligence, that North Korean troops have been relocated to Russia to participate in battles against Ukrainian forces. According to Washington, 10,000 North Korean troops were stationed in the Kursk region in early November 2024. The New York Times reported on their withdrawal from the front by the end of January.
In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the information about North Korean volunteers being sent to the conflict zone as “complete nonsense”. A month later, he referred to satellite images, saying, “If there are images, that means they reflect something” and also mentioned Article 4 of the agreement with the DPRK, which provides for military support in the event of an armed attack. The Kremlin has not commented on the reports of North Korean troop movements and deployments.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed in November 2024 the military support for Russia in the conflict, without providing details.