On Monday, North Korea officially acknowledged that it has sent troops to fight for Russia in the ongoing war with Ukraine. The deployment was ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un under a strategic partnership agreement signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.
According to the state-run KCNA news agency, North Korea’s contribution in the battle to “liberate” Russia’s Kursk region was a testament to the “firm militant friendship” between North Korea and Russia. The statement highlighted the completion of a victorious battle in Kursk, which Russia claimed had expelled Ukrainian forces, though Ukraine denied this, asserting that its troops were still operating in Belgorod, a Russian region near Ukraine’s border.
North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission indicated that Kim Jong-un’s decision to deploy troops was made under the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with Russia. The statement emphasized the troops’ commitment, with the North Korean forces regarding Russian territory as their own and proving the strength of the alliance between the two nations.
Kim Jong-un praised the troops’ efforts, calling them “heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland.” The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia comes amid reports of casualties, with Ukrainian officials estimating that North Korea sent around 14,000 soldiers, including 3,000 reinforcements. While lacking experience in armored warfare and drone operations, the North Korean forces adapted quickly despite heavy losses.
This marks the first confirmation from Russia regarding the involvement of North Korean soldiers in the war, as neither Russia nor North Korea had previously acknowledged the deployment.
Source: Swifteradio.com
