Both Russia and North Korea have confirmed their alliance as troops from each country remain active in Ukraine.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia persists, despite hopes for a peace agreement.
On Monday, April 28, North Korea’s KCNA state news agency released a statement quoting the ruling party’s commendation of their military for its involvement in the battle of Kursk.
The KCNA quoted the central military commission of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ party as stating: “Under the order of the head of state, the sub-units of the armed forces of the Republic regarded the territory of Russia as the one of their country and proved the firm alliance between the two countries.”
The ruling party expressed that the country had demonstrated a ‘highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship’ between North Korea and Russia.
While Western forces were aware of this collaboration, this marks the first official acknowledgment from North Korea that its troops are present on the ground.
Intelligence from the US, South Korea, and Ukraine had previously suggested that North Korea sent between 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers to Russia to engage in the conflict.
Until now, North Korea had neither confirmed nor refuted these reports.
Reportedly, Kim Jong Un’s orders were to ‘annihilate’ Ukrainian forces and he hailed his military personnel as heroes.
KCNA added: “North Korea regards it as an honor to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation.”
Kim was quoted as saying: “They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland.”
Last week, Russia also confirmed that it was receiving support from North Korean forces and expressed gratitude for their assistance in pushing Ukrainian troops out of Kursk, a claim that Ukraine disputes.
Over the weekend, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that Ukrainian troops were still actively engaged in Kursk despite Russian claims to the contrary.
In an address, he mentioned: “Our military continues to perform tasks in the Kursk and Belgorod regions – we are maintaining our presence on Russian territory.”
The US State Department expressed ongoing concern about North Korea’s involvement, with a spokesperson commenting: “We continue to be concerned by [North Korea’s] direct involvement in the war. [North Korea’s] military deployment to Russia and any support provided by the Russian Federation to [North Korea] in return must end.”