North Korea hails Russia alliance, defends troop deployment to Ukraine

North Korea on Thursday marked the first anniversary of its defence pact with Russia, praising the “absolute solidity” of the alliance and defending its military involvement in the war in Ukraine, despite international condemnation.

North Korea has reaffirmed its unwavering alliance with Russia, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty signed by leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 19 June, 2024.

In a front-page article, the ruling party's Rodong Sinmun newspaper hailed the pact as a “new chapter” in bilateral ties, praising the “militant friendship” and “absolute solidity” between the two nations. The treaty commits each side to mutual defence in the event of an armed attack.

Highlighting its support for Moscow, the paper lauded Pyongyang’s deployment of around 14,000 troops to Russia between October and February as “the most exemplary implementation” of the treaty.

North Korea recently confirmed that it plans to send 1,000 combat engineers and 5,000 military construction workers to assist Russian operations in Ukraine’s Kursk region.

“The people of both countries are determined to deepen militant friendship and achieve mutual prosperity and well-being,” the paper said, portraying the alliance as a strategic counterweight to Western influence.

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