Kim Jong-un reaffirms North Korea’s assist for Russia’s ‘sacred’ Ukraine warfare | EUROtoday

North Korean chief Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed Pyongyang’s assist for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, vowing to assist Moscow obtain victory in its “sacred” warfare, state media reported on Monday.

Pyongyang has despatched missiles, munitions and hundreds of troops to help Russia in Ukraine, and analysts say Moscow is sending monetary assist, army expertise, meals and power to the diplomatically remoted nation in return.

A string of high-level Russian officers have visited North Korea in current days, with Defence Minister Andrey Belousov assembly Kim on Sunday, in keeping with official statements.

North Korea “will as ever fully support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests”, Kim instructed Belousov, in keeping with the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim expressed “belief that the Russian army and people would surely win a victory in the just sacred war”, KCNA reported.

Both sides stated their delegations had mentioned deeper army ties, with Belousov saying Moscow was able to signal a cooperation plan overlaying the interval from 2027 to 2031.

Kim, Belousov and Russian parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin additionally attended the opening ceremony of a memorial complicated honouring North Korean troopers killed in Ukraine.

In a speech, Kim paid tribute to their “unrivalled bravery, mass heroism, indomitable fighting spirit and noble sacrifice”, KCNA stated.

He took half in a ceremony to bury the warfare useless, recalling their “last heroic moments” and overlaying the stays of a soldier with earth.

Read extraKim hails North Korea’s ‘invincible alliance’ with Russia in New Year’s letter

The inauguration additionally included a live performance, a fireworks show and an air drive flyover, KCNA reported.

The viewers had been moved by portrayals of “life-and-death bloody battles” and “death-defying hand-to-hand fights and heroic suicidal explosions the young soldiers chose without hesitation”, it stated.

North Korea and Russia signed a army treaty in 2024, obligating each states to offer army help “without delay” within the occasion of an assault on the opposite.

‘Brilliant warfare outcomes’

The opening of the memorial coincides with the primary anniversary of Moscow’s restoration of elements of Kursk, a area in Russia the place Ukraine launched a serious counteroffensive beginning in mid-2024.

North Korean troopers had been deployed within the space to assist beat again the Ukrainian advance.

In his assembly with Belousov, Kim hailed the “brilliant war results in liberating Kursk”, in keeping with KCNA.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the “extraordinary bravery and genuine devotion” of North Korean troops in a letter to Kim that was printed by KCNA.

Seoul estimates about 2,000 North Koreans have been killed within the Ukraine warfare.

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North Korean troops are stated to have been instructed to kill themselves fairly than be captured in battle.

Only two North Korean troopers have been taken alive and are at the moment in custody of Ukrainian authorities.

Olive department shunned

In distinction with its ties with Russia, North Korea has known as South Korea its “most hostile” adversary regardless of Seoul’s efforts at engagement.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated on Monday that it was “the destiny of both the South and the North to make the flowers of peace bloom”.

He vowed to behave “proactively” to revive belief with Pyongyang, including: “We hope the North will trust the sincerity of our government and respond in kind.”

Lee’s feedback marked the anniversary of the 2018 inter-Korean summit, at which Kim and South Korea’s then-president Moon Jae-in memorably crossed into the opposite nation’s territory.

The summit yielded a declaration to work in the direction of an official finish to the Korean War, however was later suspended as bilateral tensions rose once more.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)