Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledge solidarity and stronger relationships, as they prepare for an upcoming US-Russia summit.
In a "warm comradely atmosphere," a conversation between North Korean and Russian leaders has taken place, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Since the second summit in Hanoi in 2019, North Korea has accelerated its nuclear program due to a failure to agree on what the North would receive in return.
This robust military aid comes at a critical moment, coinciding with massive Russian missile and drone attacks against Kyiv, and reflects deepening Russo-North Korean military cooperation. As of August 2025, North Korea has significantly escalated its military support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, having initially sent about 10,000 troops, with around 4,000 killed or injured. The country has pledged to triple its troop contribution by sending an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers in the months following early August 2025.
Russia appears to be paying North Korea a minimum per troop and providing technology likely unavailable to Pyongyang independently, which Western observers fear might include sensitive missile and nuclear-related technologies in exchange for manpower. This exchange could enhance North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, escalating regional and global security risks.
The extensive North Korean troop involvement and possible technology transfers complicate US efforts to enforce sanctions and isolate both Russia and North Korea. The cooperation indicates a closer military and technological relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang, potentially undermining US leverage in negotiations on both Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
US-Russia relations may remain strained with Russia’s ongoing refusal to comply with US demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine, now compounded by its partnership with North Korea. The possibility of enhanced North Korean nuclear capabilities due to Russian technology support presents a new challenge for US and allied non-proliferation strategies, raising the stakes for diplomatic engagement or pressure tactics.
In the Korean Peninsula, relations between the two Koreas had been at one of their lowest points in years under former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol. However, newly elected President Lee Jae Myung has taken a different approach, saying he would seek talks with the North without preconditions.
The Kremlin confirmed a phone call between Putin and Kim, with Putin expressing appreciation for the North Korean troops' "self-sacrificing spirit." Kim pledged to support all future measures taken by the Russian leadership. Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, suggested that the public disclosure of Kim and Putin’s conversation is intended to showcase their closeness to domestic and international audiences.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Trump is expected to press Russia to end the Ukraine war during his meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday. If Trump and Putin agree on a Ukraine peace deal, Putin could convey Kim’s stance on Trump’s North Korea-related interests, potentially including a conditional summit on nuclear disarmament.
The impact of these developments on future diplomacy regarding Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear program remains to be seen, but it is clear that the situation is growing increasingly complex and volatile.
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