North Korea's Kim reaffirms full support for Russia, KCNA says

Reuters

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that his country would continue to "fully support" Russia and its military as part of its "fraternal duty" under its treaty with Moscow, according to state media KCNA on Thursday.

Kim met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday during China's World War Two surrender celebrations in Beijing. The two leaders, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, attended a massive military parade, marking the first such gathering of the three nations' leaders since the early Cold War era. This trip to Beijing provided Kim with his first opportunity to meet both Putin and Xi together, as well as interact with over two dozen other national leaders present at the events.

KCNA reported that Kim and Putin exchanged "candid opinions" on key international and regional issues. Putin "highly praised" North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine, and Kim expressed gratitude, the agency added.

North Korea has already sent soldiers, artillery, ammunition, and missiles to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. South Korea's intelligence service believes North Korea plans to deploy an additional 6,000 troops, with 1,000 combat soldiers already stationed in Russia. Another deployment is anticipated, according to South Korean intelligence assessments.

Kim and Putin also discussed long-term partnership plans and reaffirmed their "steadfast will" to strengthen bilateral relations, KCNA stated.

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