North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, pledging “unconditional support” according to state media. During a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kim expressed his country’s loyalty to “all measures taken by the Russian leadership” in addressing the core of the Ukrainian crisis.
Western intelligence suggests that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops have been dispatched to Russia in the past year to fight against Ukraine. This support comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In contrast, US President Donald Trump recently resumed military aid to Ukraine, after a brief pause. Trump announced an agreement with NATO to supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems following an escalation in Russian airstrikes.
North Korea’s official acknowledgement of troop deployments to Russia followed Ukraine and Western countries revealing the substantial movement of North Korean forces to the Russian-Ukrainian front.
In June of the previous year, Kim solidified a pact with Putin, agreeing to support each other in the face of “aggression”. Additionally, North Korea intends to send thousands of workers to aid in reconstructing the war-affected Kursk region, as stated by Moscow’s security chief.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czeyxrng6gro
