Kim Jong Un backs Russia's Ukraine war with troops
SkimNews Take
The deepening military-economic alliance between Russia and North Korea, driven by mutual needs, suggests a growing counter-bloc to Western influence that could reshape regional power dynamics.
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Kim Jong Un pledged to continue backing Russia’s "sacred" war, promising full support of its policy to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Andrey Belousov met Kim in Pyongyang and discussed a cooperation plan slated for 2027‑2031, indicating deeper military ties.
- North Korea has already dispatched missiles, munitions and thousands of troops to Ukraine, with Seoul estimating about 2,000 of its soldiers killed.
- Vyacheslav Volodin attended the opening of a memorial complex honoring North Korean soldiers, underscoring the symbolic bond between the two regimes.
- Kursk was highlighted as a recent victory where North Korean troops helped Russia reclaim parts of the region, marking the first anniversary of the operation.
Why it matters: Russia gains roughly 2,000 North Korean troops and materiel, strengthening its Ukraine front, while Ukraine faces heightened casualties and territorial losses; the alliance deepens sanctions on Pyongyang, further constraining its economy.
Ask SkimNews
