North Korea’s Kim reaffirms full support for Russia, discusses partnership with Putin

SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country would continue to “fully support” Russia and its army as a “fraternal duty” of its treaty with Moscow, state media KCNA reported on Sept 4.

Mr Kim held a meeting on Sept 3 with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of China’s celebrations to mark the formal surrender of Japan in World War II in Beijing.

The pair flanked Chinese President Xi Jinping at a massive military parade

for the first such gathering of the three countries’ leaders since the early days of the Cold War.

Mr Kim’s Beijing trip offered his first-ever chance to meet Mr Putin and Mr Xi together, as well as mingle with the more than two dozen other national leaders who attended the events.

State media photos showed Mr Kim standing or walking with the Russian and Chinese leaders side by side with a smile.

“Comrade Kim Jong Un and President Putin exchanged candid opinions on important international and regional issues,” KCNA said.

Mr Putin “highly praised” North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine and Mr Kim expressed thanks, KCNA added.

North Korea has sent soldiers, artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

South Korea’s intelligence agency estimated this week that some 2,000 North Korean soldiers sent to fight for Russia had been killed.

It believes North Korea plans to deploy another 6,000 troops, with about 1,000 combat soldiers already in Russia.

Mr Kim and Mr Putin discussed in detail the long-term plans for partnership and reaffirmed their “steadfast will” to elevate bilateral relations to a high level, according to KCNA.

In 2024, the two leaders signed a mutual defence treaty that calls for each side to come to the other’s aid in case of an armed attack. REUTERS