Lavrov says Russia, North Korea fighting for ‘new, righteous’ world order

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conveyed to his North Korean counterpart that their nations are striving to forge a "new, righteous world order" following North Korea's assistance in driving Ukrainian forces and mercenaries from the Kursk region last year. Lavrov reiterated Russia's commitment to enhanced cooperation across various sectors and its contribution to regional and international security, as stated by North Korea's official news agency, KCNA.

In late 2024, an estimated 14,000 North Korean soldiers joined Russia in combating a significant Ukrainian advance into the Kursk area. Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed this assistance in May 2025, crediting North Korea for its support. Both Russia and North Korea are actively working to establish a "new and righteous world order" based on genuine equality and national interests, according to Lavrov's message.

The participation of North Korean personnel in the operations that pushed Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries out of Kursk serves as a testament to the longstanding tradition of militant friendship between the two nations, as Lavrov emphasized. Russia's efforts to label the Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as a Nazi regime intent on persecuting Russian-speaking individuals in Ukraine have been a recurring theme.

This characterization, widely dismissed by Zelenskiy and his Western allies as absurd, persists amidst concerns in South Korea and Western countries regarding potential North Korean involvement in weapons development in exchange for support during the conflict.