North Korea reaffirms military backing as strategic alliance with Moscow deepens

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged unconditional support for Russia’s efforts in Ukraine, reaffirming Pyongyang’s military and political backing during a high-level meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to state media reports.

The two met on Saturday in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan as part of Lavrov’s three-day visit to North Korea. The trip is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang amid deepening global tensions.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim stated that North Korea was fully committed to endorsing all actions taken by the Russian leadership to address the Ukraine crisis. “The DPRK is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by Russia to tackle the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

The visit marked the second round of strategic dialogue between the two countries’ foreign ministers since the signing of a comprehensive partnership treaty in 2024, which includes a mutual defense agreement.

Lavrov also held talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, with both sides issuing a joint statement affirming their commitment to defend each other’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Russian media reported that Lavrov, during his meeting with Kim, referred to the growing ties between the two nations as “an invincible fighting brotherhood” and expressed gratitude for the troops and arms North Korea has already supplied for Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, Pyongyang has reportedly sent more than 10,000 military personnel to assist Russia, along with weaponry and logistical support. The North Korean government has also pledged to send an additional 6,000 military engineers and builders to support reconstruction efforts in Russia’s war-affected Kursk region.

The renewed alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang highlights a significant shift in geopolitical alignments, as both nations continue to defy Western sanctions and deepen cooperation on military, strategic, and economic fronts.