Russia and North Korea have established a long-term military partnership, according to Russia’s defense ministry, following a visit by Moscow’s top military official to Pyongyang.
North Korea has reportedly sent thousands of troops, along with missiles and ammunition, to bolster Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. In exchange, analysts believe Pyongyang is receiving financial support, advanced military technology, food, and energy supplies from Moscow—resources that help North Korea sidestep strict international sanctions tied to its nuclear program.
In 2024, the two nations signed a military treaty committing both sides to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked.
We have agreed with the DPRK Defence Ministry to establish a stable, long-term basis for our military cooperation, said Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, referring to North Korea by its official acronym. “We are prepared to sign a plan this year for Russian–Korean military cooperation covering 2027 to 2031.
Russian delegates are currently in Pyongyang for the inauguration of a memorial complex honoring those who died supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
On Sunday, Belousov met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Defence Minister No Kwang Chol. Russia’s parliamentary speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, also met with Kim and expressed gratitude for North Korea’s role in what he described as the liberation of Kursk.
North Korean troops have reportedly been deployed to Russia’s western Kursk region, where they have helped repel a prolonged Ukrainian counter-offensive. According to Russia’s defense ministry, Belousov presented military awards to North Korean soldiers involved in the operation.
Korean soldiers fought side by side with our own troops, freeing Russian territory from Ukrainian Nazis, Volodin said.
South Korea estimates that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Reports also indicate that North Korean troops have been ordered to take their own lives rather than risk capture. Only two North Korean soldiers are known to have been captured alive and remain in Ukrainian custody.
(Source: AFP)
