North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged “unconditional support” for Russia in its war against Ukraine, expressing confidence in Moscow’s eventual victory, according to a Thursday report by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim’s remarks came during a meeting with Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang on Wednesday, further signaling a strengthening alliance between the two countries. He affirmed North Korea’s unwavering backing of Russia’s stance on global affairs, particularly its military campaign in Ukraine.
“Kim expressed expectation and conviction that Russia would, as ever, surely win victory in the sacred cause of justice,” KCNA reported.
Growing Military Collaboration
North Korea has emerged as one of Russia’s key allies in its ongoing war effort, reportedly providing substantial support, including weapons and troops. South Korean intelligence reports, shared by lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, claim around 600 North Korean soldiers have died and thousands more have been injured while fighting for Russia.
In April, Pyongyang acknowledged for the first time that it had deployed troops to support Russia, admitting to combat fatalities among its forces. Additionally, South Korea has accused North Korea of supplying large volumes of weaponry, including missiles, to bolster Russia’s military operations.
Russia and North Korea formalized their cooperation through a broad military pact signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rare visit to North Korea last year. The agreement, which includes a mutual defense clause, was praised by Shoigu as aligning with the interests of both nations during a visit in March.
Tensions Amid Drone Attacks and New Leadership in Seoul
The high-level meeting coincided with the inauguration of South Korea’s new president Lee Jae-myung, who signaled a softer stance toward Pyongyang, contrasting sharply with his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol. In his inaugural speech, Lee emphasized deterrence of North Korean aggression while pledging efforts to reinitiate dialogue and build peace.
Despite this overture, KCNA’s report on Lee’s inauguration was limited to a brief, two-line mention, offering no formal response to his diplomatic gestures.
Analysts believe Pyongyang’s focus is now heavily tilted toward strengthening its military collaboration with Moscow rather than mending inter-Korean ties.
“Prospects for restoring inter-Korean ties grow increasingly remote,” noted Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies.
Shoigu’s visit came shortly after Ukraine launched a large-scale drone strike on Russia, further intensifying discussions around military coordination. According to Lim, North Korea’s role in countering such threats may enhance its own modern warfare capabilities, hinting at a more assertive position in future military partnerships with Russia.
Condemnation from the West
A multilateral sanctions monitoring group, including countries such as South Korea, the United States, and Japan, recently condemned the Russia–North Korea military alliance as “unlawful.” The group revealed that as many as nine million rounds of mixed artillery and rocket launcher ammunition were shipped from North Korea to Russia in 2023.
In return, Russia is believed to have supplied North Korea with air defense systems and anti-aircraft missiles, further deepening the military exchange.
Amid mounting international criticism, North Korea also responded fiercely to comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Macron had suggested that NATO could play a role in Asia if China failed to pressure Pyongyang to halt its military support to Russia.
A commentary published by KCNA labeled Macron’s remarks as “shocking claptrap,” with analyst Choe Ju Hyun accusing the French leader of trying to disguise NATO’s “aggressive and wicked intention” to militarize the Asia-Pacific region.
“It is a mistake if Macron thinks that he can cloak NATO’s aggressive and wicked intention to put dirty military shoes on the Asia-Pacific region by taking issue with the DPRK-Russia cooperative relations,” the commentary asserted.
What you should know
Kim Jong Un has pledged North Korea’s full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, deepening military ties that now include troop deployments and arms shipments.
Despite global condemnation and growing tensions, Pyongyang remains resolute in its alliance with Moscow, while signaling little interest in resuming dialogue with South Korea.
