North Korea and Russia have both confirmed their deepening military partnership, with soldiers from both nations now operating together on the front lines in Ukraine.
Despite ongoing hopes for a peace agreement, the war between Ukraine and Russia shows no signs of abating.
In a statement released on Monday (April 28), North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported that the ruling Workers’ Party praised the country’s military for its role in the conflict, notably referencing the historic Battle of Kursk as a symbol of resilience and solidarity.
According to KCNA, the central military commission of North Korea’s Workers’ Party declared: “Under the order of the head of state, the sub-units of the armed forces of the Republic regarded the territory of Russia as their own and demonstrated the firm alliance between our two nations.”
The statement further emphasized that North Korea had showcased “the highest strategic level of firm militant friendship” with Russia through its actions.
Kim Jong Un praised the North Korean troops fighting for Russia(VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
While this is not new information to Western forces, today marks the first official confirmation from the secretive nation that North Korean troops have been deployed on the ground.
U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence agencies had previously reported that North Korea had sent between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to Russia to participate in the war. Until now, Pyongyang had neither confirmed nor denied these claims.
According to reports, Kim Jong Un ordered his forces to “annihilate” Ukrainian troops and praised North Korean fighters as heroes.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated: “North Korea regards it as an honor to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation.”
Kim was also quoted as saying: “Those who fought for justice are heroes and the pride of the motherland.”
Russia also praised the support of North Korean soldiers in its war against Ukraine(GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Last week, Russia confirmed that it was receiving support from North Korean troops and expressed gratitude for their assistance in pushing Ukrainian forces out of Kursk — a claim Ukraine firmly denies.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered Russia’s assertions, stating that Ukrainian forces were still active in Kursk. In an evening address, he said: “Our military continues to carry out missions in the Kursk and Belgorod regions — we are maintaining our presence on Russian territory.”
The U.S. State Department reiterated its concern over North Korea’s involvement. A spokesperson said: “We remain deeply concerned by North Korea’s direct participation in the war. North Korea’s military deployment to Russia, and any support Russia provides in return, must cease.”
