North Korea's head ruler expresses unwavering backing for Putin, aiming to intensify collaborative efforts
In a significant turn of events, the strategic partnership and military cooperation between North Korea and Russia has intensified, particularly in the context of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. This partnership, marked by mutual political support and coordinated military actions, has seen North Korea providing direct military support to Russia's invasion effort.
Since late 2024, approximately 30,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to assist Russian forces on the front lines in Ukraine. These troops have engaged in combat alongside Russian forces, contributing to territorial gains, notably in the Kursk region. Additionally, North Korea has supplied large quantities of 152-millimeter artillery rounds, bolstering Russia's artillery capabilities during the conflict.
Beyond frontline support, there is documented military cooperation involving arms transfers from North Korea to Russia and reciprocal Russian military technology transfer and training to North Korean forces. This unlawful military cooperation, as reported by the United Nations’ Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), underscores concerns about sanction violations.
High-level diplomatic interactions, such as the July 2025 visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to North Korea and a recent phone call between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, reaffirm their countries’ commitment to deepening collaboration and mutual support for Russia’s military objectives in Ukraine.
This cooperation violates UN Security Council resolutions aimed at restricting North Korea’s military capabilities and Russia’s military support under sanctions regimes. Russia notably vetoed attempts to extend UN expert panels monitoring these violations, complicating international oversight.
In a historic move, Kim Jong-un expressed his support for Russia and the measures to be taken by the Russian leadership in the future. The communist regime has also disclosed details about telephone conversations with a foreign leader for the first time, discussing the support provided by North Korea to the Russian forces in the conflict with Ukraine.
The specific details about a territorial exchange proposal were not discussed in the provided paragraph. However, it is worth noting that this partnership could help modernize North Korea's armed forces, including its nuclear and missile programs, with Moscow providing food, energy, and military technology in exchange for North Korea's support.
Thousands of North Korean soldiers have been involved in combat operations, particularly in the Russian region of Kursk, where they showed bravery, heroism, and spirit of sacrifice in the liberation of Kursk, a Russian province.
The information provided in this article is based on reports from the U.S.-based Atlantic Council research center.
- The escalating partnership between North Korea and Russia in technology has been evident, as reports suggest Russia is providing military technology and training to North Korean forces in exchange for North Korea's support.
- The intensified political alliance between North Korea and Russia, forged in the backdrop of war-and-conflicts like the ongoing Ukraine crisis, is resulting in a potential modernization of North Korea's armed forces, including its nuclear and missile programs.
