North Korea and Russia Highlight Wartime Bonds With Unverified Claims of DPRK Fighters in Ukraine
State media portray the anniversary festivities as cementing a strategic military partnership built on shared wartime history with contested claims of DPRK combat support in Ukraine
Overview
- Vladimir Putin’s congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Un praised DPRK soldiers for their “heroic participation” in liberating Russia’s Kursk region from “Ukrainian occupationists” as published by KCNA.
- In his reply, Kim Jong Un thanked Putin, reaffirmed the June 2024 comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and expressed confidence in joint efforts to establish a multipolar world.
- A Russian State Duma delegation led by Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin arrived in Pyongyang to mark the 80th liberation anniversary and held talks with Choe Ryong Hae on enhancing cooperation and building a new peaceful and just world.
- Gennady Zyuganov, leader of Russia’s Communist Party, sent Kim a letter thanking North Korea for deploying troops to the Kursk front-line region, further underscoring military collaboration.
- Limited independent verification of North Korea’s reported participation in the Kursk battles raises questions about potential United Nations sanctions violations.