On Monday, North Korea officially acknowledged that it has deployed troops to fight for Russia in the ongoing war with Ukraine, following an order from leader Kim Jong Un.
The North praised the soldiers for their significant role in the liberation of Russian territory previously occupied by Ukraine. The state-run KCNA news agency quoted the ruling party as highlighting the “highest strategic level of firm militant friendship” between North Korea and Russia, with particular emphasis on the successful recapture of the Kursk region.
Russia had claimed last week that Ukrainian forces had been pushed out of the last Russian village they controlled, though Ukraine denied the assertion, maintaining its operations in the Belgorod region.
Kim Jong Un’s decision to deploy troops was based on a strategic partnership agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signed last year.
According to the North’s Central Military Commission, Kim stated that the troops treated Russian territory as their own and helped demonstrate the solid alliance between the two nations.
KCNA further reported Kim referring to the soldiers as “heroes” and “representatives of the honor of the motherland” for their actions.
North Korea expressed pride in its alliance with Russia, calling it an honor to align with such a powerful state.
Ukrainian officials estimate that North Korea sent around 14,000 soldiers, including 3,000 replacements for casualties, with the troops lacking experience in armored warfare and drones, suffering heavy losses but adapting over time. Russia confirmed on Saturday for the first time that North Korean forces were fighting alongside Russian troops in Kursk.
