Kim Jong Un pledges unconditional support for Russia's war against Ukraine
- Kim Jong Un affirmed North Korea's unconditional support for Russia's military efforts in Ukraine during a meeting in Pyongyang.
- North Korea has deployed over 14,000 troops to Russia since the conflict began, indicating an escalated military collaboration.
- This growing partnership between North Korea and Russia may strengthen both nations' military capabilities and impact global geopolitical dynamics.
In North Korea, on June 5, 2025, Kim Jong Un communicated a message of unwavering support for Russia's military actions in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang. This meeting has been reported by the official news agency KCNA, marking a definitive signal of strengthening military ties between North Korea and Russia. This alignment took place amidst the backdrop of North Korea's involvement in the ongoing conflict, highlighted by the historical deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, which was officially confirmed in April 2025. Since that time, approximately 11,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia in 2024, followed by an additional 3,000 troops in early 2025, indicating a noteworthy escalation in military cooperation. These troops reportedly participated in operations to secure Russian territories, specifically in the Kursk region, engaging Ukrainian forces alongside Russian soldiers. Such developments have received attention from international observers, as the partnership is perceived as a threat to fulfillment of security and geopolitics in East Asia and Europe. In his discussion with Shoigu, Kim Jong Un expressed his belief in Russia's eventual victory in what he termed a 'sacred cause of justice,' underlining a shared narrative between both nations that frames their military efforts as defensive and righteous. This sentiment reflects a broader agreement on international political stances that hold significant implications for their respective diplomatic strategies regarding issues such as Ukraine and other global conflicts. As North Korea amplifies its military support to Russia, various reports have indicated that North Korea has been supplying substantial amounts of conventional weaponry while also gaining access to possible economic and military assistance from Russia in return. These exchanges signal mutual benefit and a deepening of strategic ties, heightened by concerns that advanced military technologies may be shared to bolster North Korea's nuclear ambitions, especially as they eye rival nations. The recent developments reveal a worrying alignment of interests between two increasingly isolated nations against Western alliances, contributing to ongoing tensions in the international arena.