North Korea confirmed for the first time on Monday that it had sent troops to fight against Russia in the war with Ukraine under the order of leader Kim Jong-un and made a significant contribution to the release of Russian territory occupied by Ukraine.
The victorious end of the battle to release the Kursk region of Russia has shown the “highest strategic level of militant friendship” between North Korea and Russia, the KCNA state news agency quoted the North ruling party.
Russia said that last week, Ukrainian forces had been expelled from the last Russian village they owned, although Kyiv denied the complaint and said their troops were still operating in Belgorod, another Russian region bordering Ukraine.
The central military commission of the Northern Workers’ Party said that chief Kim Jong-un had made the decision to deploy troops under the full processing of the strategic partnership he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.
“Under the order of the Head of State, the subunits of the Armed Forces of the Republic considered the territory of Russia as one of their country and proved the firm alliance between the two countries,” the Commission said.
Ukraine has published a short video which, according to him, concerns two North Korean soldiers interviewed in kyiv after being made as prisoners of war in Kursk, Russia.
“Those who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the Honor of the Fatherland,” said Kim, the state news agency.
North Korea “considers an honor to have an alliance with a state as powerful as the Russian Federation,” said KCNA.
North Korea has sent a total estimated at 14,000 soldiers, including 3,000 reinforcements, to replace its losses, said Ukrainian officials. Missing of armored vehicles and drone war experience, they made heavy victims but quickly adapted.
Russia confirmed on Saturday for the first time that North Korean soldiers were fighting alongside the Russians in Kursk. Neither Russia nor North Korea had previously confirmed or denied deployment.
