Russia, North Korea to continue cooperation 'in all sectors,' Putin says on Korean Liberation Day
Cooperation between Russia and North Korea would continue "in all the sectors," Putin said in his message, while Kim praised ties that had “carried forward the history of common struggle for justice and precious traditions of friendship,” according to Reuters.
On August 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commemorated the 81st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, reinforcing the evolving connection between their nations. Speaking through a message, Putin stated that cooperation between Russia and North Korea would persist across all sectors, while Kim acknowledged the robust ties that have "advanced the history of joint struggle for justice and enduring traditions of friendship," as reported by Reuters.
Notably, North Korea has emerged as a crucial military ally of Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The country has provided Russian forces with troops, missiles, and artillery ammunition. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, announced on August 10 that Russia had received a new shipment of additional ballistic missiles from Pyongyang, signifying the deepening military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang. This alliance has encompassed the transfer of both weapons and troops.
Russian forces have deployed North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in assaults on Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader alleged that North Korean ballistic missiles were utilized in an attack on Zaporizhzhia on August 11. In late July, a North Korean missile was speculated to have killed six individuals in Kryvyi Rih.
Ukraine's president further claimed that Russia was set to receive a further 30,000 North Korean troops. In the past, Pyongyang had dispatched approximately 14,000 troops to Russia in 2024, where they engaged Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast.
In June 2024, Putin and Kim signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which included a mutual-defense provision pledging support in case of an attack on either nation.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
