Overview

• North Korea’s KCNA and the Kremlin confirmed that Putin and Kim Jong Un held an August 13 phone call reaffirming plans to deepen bilateral cooperation.
• Putin publicly praised the “self-sacrificing spirit” of North Korean troops in the “liberation of Kursk,” an apparent reference to Pyongyang’s military involvement in Ukraine.
• Kim Jong Un assured Moscow of Pyongyang’s continued, unconditional support for all Russian actions.
• The Kremlin said the leaders exchanged information relevant to President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Putin in Alaska.
• Experts warn that closer Russia–North Korea ties could complicate Ukraine peace negotiations and raise proliferation and regional security concerns.