Putin reaffirms camaraderie with North Korea before meeting with Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, just before their upcoming discussions with Donald Trump on Friday.

Furthermore, the BBC has unveiled the ‘slave-like’ circumstances faced by thousands of North Korean workers dispatched to Russia for construction projects.

In their recent conversation on Tuesday, Putin commended Pyongyang for its military support in Ukraine.

This week saw Russia making significant advancements in Ukraine, including a sudden push near Dobropillia, progressing 10km (six miles) in a short span.

According to the Kremlin statement, Kim and Putin reinforced their friendship, goodwill, and cooperative efforts.

Putin briefed Kim Jong-Un about the preparation for the Alaska summit, sharing information regarding the impending talks with US President Donald Trump.

However, this detail was not included in the official North Korean statement.

Reiterating his previous stance, Putin applauded North Korea’s assistance in the ‘liberation of the Kursk region’, as reported by his office.

Ukraine’s military briefly entered Russia’s Kursk territory last year, demonstrating its ability to counteract Russia, which currently holds around 20% of Ukraine.

The conversation between Putin and Kim transpired just a few days before the expected travel of the Russian leader to Alaska to hold talks with Trump, in their first face-to-face meeting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Despite facing severe economic and diplomatic isolation from the West due to the war, Moscow and Pyongyang have witnessed unparalleled collaboration. At least 10,000 North Korean soldiers are reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces, according to Ukraine and South Korea.

Additionally, North Korea has supplied Russia with missiles, artillery shells, and laborers.

With many Russian men either deceased, engaged in combat, or having escaped the country, South Korean intelligence sources have informed the BBC that Moscow is increasingly reliant on North Korean workers.