Both Russia and North Korea have confirmed their partnership as soldiers from both nations continue to operate in Ukraine.
The war between Ukraine and Russia continues to rage on despite hopes of a peace deal being met.
In a statement released on Monday (April 28) North Korea's KCNA state news agency quoted the ruling party praising their military for its role in the battle of Kursk.
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KCNA cited the central military commission of North Korea ruling Workers’ party as saying: “Under the order of the head of state, the sub-units of the armed forces of the Republic regarded the territory of Russia as the one of their country and proved the firm alliance between the two countries.”
The party said the country had showcased ‘highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship’ between North Korea and Russia.
While this isn’t news to Western forces, this remains the first official confirmation from the secretive nation that North Korean troops have been involved on the ground.
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US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence had previously indicated that the country had dispatched between 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia for participation in the war.
North Korea had not confirmed or denied this until today.
Kim Jong Un’s deployment orders were to reportedly ‘annihilate’ Ukrainian troops and praised his own military fighters as heroes.
KCNA continued: “North Korea regards it as an honor to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation.”
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And quoted Kim as saying: “They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland.”
Last week Russia also clarified that it was being supported by North Korean troops and thanked them for helping them expel Ukrainian forces from Kursk, a claim that Ukraine denies.
Over the weekend, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his troops were still fighting in Kursk despite Russia’s claims.
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In an evening address he said: “Our military continues to perform tasks in the Kursk and Belgorod regions – we are maintaining our presence on Russian territory."
The US state department has said it continues to be concerned about North Korea’s involvement, and a spokesperson said: “We continue to be concerned by [North Korea’s] direct involvement in the war. [North Korea’s] military deployment to Russia and any support provided by the Russian Federation to [North Korea] in return must end.”
Topics: Kim Jong-un, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Gerrard Kaonga