North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged unwavering support for Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, expressing strong confidence in Moscow’s eventual victory.
The statement came during the recent visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Pyongyang—his second trip to North Korea in less than three months—highlighting the deepening military and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a historic visit to Pyongyang, where the countries signed a comprehensive military cooperation agreement that includes a mutual defense clause.
According to North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, both sides agreed to “dynamically expand” their relations, which have grown significantly closer since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
South Korean intelligence, cited by lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, alleges that around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, with thousands more reportedly wounded. In April, North Korea publicly acknowledged for the first time that it had deployed troops to support Russia and confirmed casualties among its ranks.
Seoul has also accused Pyongyang of supplying substantial military aid to Russia, including missiles. A sanctions monitoring coalition—including South Korea, the United States, and Japan—recently estimated that North Korea sent up to nine million rounds of artillery and rocket ammunition to Russia last year. In exchange, North Korea is believed to have received advanced air defense systems and anti-aircraft missiles.
The group condemned this military cooperation as “unlawful,” highlighting violations of international sanctions imposed on both countries.
Shoigu’s visit coincided with the inauguration of South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, who has signaled a willingness to engage in dialogue and cooperation with the North. However, KCNA responded with only a brief two-line mention of Lee’s swearing-in and did not address his peace overtures.
In a related development, North Korea’s state media sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for comments made during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Macron had warned about the threat posed by Pyongyang’s growing alignment with Moscow. KCNA dismissed Macron’s remarks as “shocking claptrap” and accused NATO of attempting to militarize the Asia-Pacific region.
As Moscow and Pyongyang’s alliance strengthens, the international community remains watchful, concerned about escalating militarization and ongoing breaches of sanctions regimes.
