Kim Jong Un pledges unwavering support for Putin in Ukraine conflict
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un expressed his solidarity and support with the Russian Armed Forces fighting for "justice for protection of sovereign rights and security of the country". He promised to "unite" with Vladimir Putin and provide him with "continuous, unwavering support".
Kim Jong Un assured Moscow of the DPRK government and people's unwavering solidarity. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un made these remarks during a meeting with a Russian delegation led by Russian Deputy Defence Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko.
During the negotiations held at the Central Committee Building of the Workers' Party of Korea, the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea noted that the armies of both countries should unite more closely, vigorously stimulate Korea-Russia relations and play an essential role in protecting regional, global peace and international justice.
Protection of mutual interests
According to KCNA, the meeting discussed cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang in the military sphere in order to protect mutual security interests. No additional details were provided.
From the beginning of Russia's brutal assault, they support Putin
North Korea is one of the few countries that has supported Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pyongyang's support has been expressed in words and by providing military assistance.
According to calculations by the Centre for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS), from August last year to January 2024, North Korea delivered approximately 1.6 million artillery shells to Russia.
However, according to South Korean intelligence, this number could be three times higher. The White House claimed that among the delivered ammunition were ballistic missiles. Moscow and Pyongyang deny that the two countries are conducting illegal military-technical cooperation.
In June, dictator Vladimir Putin visited the DPRK for the first time since 2000. During the visit, the sides signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement", which stipulates that Russia and the DPRK "will immediately provide mutual assistance if either side is attacked" and finds itself in a state of war.
South concerned
The Russian Foreign Ministry assures that the agreement is not aimed at creating a military alliance in the Western model and is not directed against third countries.
However, the agreement has raised concerns in South Korea, which stated that it would lift the ban on lethal weapon supplies to Ukraine if Russia began sending precision-guided weapons to Pyongyang. Putin said that Seoul has nothing to worry about but called potential arms deliveries to Kyiv "a big mistake".
