Kim Jong Un reaffirmed support for Russia's war in Ukraine - media

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed Pyongyang's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, state media reported on Monday, UNN writes, citing AFP.

Details

Pyongyang has sent missiles, ammunition, and thousands of troops to aid Russia in Ukraine, while analysts say Moscow is responding by sending financial aid, military technology, food, and energy to the diplomatically isolated country.

According to official statements, a number of high-ranking Russian officials have visited North Korea in recent days, and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov met with Kim on Sunday.

North Korea will, "as always, fully support the policies of the Russian Federation to protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests," Kim told Belousov, according to KCNA.

Kim expressed his "conviction that the Russian army and people will surely win victory in the just sacred war," KCNA reports.

Both sides stated that their delegations discussed deepening military ties, and Belousov said that Moscow is ready to sign a cooperation plan for the period from 2027 to 2031.

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin praised the "extraordinary bravery and sincere devotion" of North Korean troops in a letter to Kim published by KCNA.

According to Seoul's estimates, about 2,000 North Koreans have died in the war in Ukraine.

North Korean troops were reportedly ordered to kill themselves rather than be captured in battle, the publication writes.

Only two North Korean soldiers have been captured alive, and they are currently in the custody of the Ukrainian authorities, the publication writes.

Kim, Belousov, and Russian Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin also attended the opening ceremony of a memorial complex honoring North Korean soldiers killed in Russia's war against Ukraine.

In his speech, Kim paid tribute to their "unmatched bravery, mass heroism, indomitable fighting spirit, and noble self-sacrifice," KCNA reports.

He took part in the burial ceremony for those killed in the war, recalling their "final heroic moments" and covering the remains with earth.

According to KCNA, the opening included a concert, fireworks, and an air force flyover.

The audience was "moved" by images of "bloody life-and-death battles" and "deadly hand-to-hand combat and heroic suicide explosions that young soldiers chose without hesitation," the publication writes.

North Korea and Russia signed a military treaty in 2024, which obligates both states to provide military assistance "immediately" in the event of an attack on the other.

Kim Jong Un supported China's idea of a "multipolar world"11.04.26, 19:30 • 4617 views

In contrast to its ties with Russia, North Korea has labeled South Korea its "most hostile" adversary, despite Seoul's efforts at engagement.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on Monday that "it is the fate of both the South and the North for the flowers of peace to bloom."

He pledged to act "proactively" to restore trust with Pyongyang, adding: "We hope that the North will trust our government's sincerity and respond in kind."

Lee's comments marked the anniversary of the 2018 inter-Korean summit, where Kim and then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in memorably crossed into each other's territory.

The summit ended with a declaration to work toward an official end to the Korean War, but was later suspended due to a resurgence of bilateral tensions.