North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged his country’s full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, deepening military ties with Moscow amid rising global concern over the alliance between the two heavily sanctioned nations.
During a high-level meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the coastal city of Wonsan, Kim expressed what state media described as “unconditional support” for all actions taken by the Kremlin, as Russia continues its offensive against Ukraine.
Lavrov’s three-day visit underscores a growing strategic partnership that has developed rapidly over the course of the war.
According to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim reaffirmed his country’s backing of Russia’s position on the conflict, calling Moscow’s efforts essential for “tackling the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis.”
North Korea Offers Support to Russia’s Putin
Lavrov, meanwhile, conveyed a message from President Vladimir Putin expressing hope for continued high-level engagement between the two countries.
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The meeting was part of the second round of strategic dialogue between Lavrov and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, building on a bilateral defense pact signed last year.
That agreement, reached during Putin’s rare visit to North Korea in June 2024, includes a mutual defense clause and has sparked concerns among Western governments about the expansion of military cooperation between the two authoritarian regimes.
KCNA reported that Kim told Lavrov he believes Russia would “surely achieve victory” in what he referred to as the “sacred cause” of defending its sovereignty.
Trump Supporting Ukraine
This comes after Trump paused weapons to Ukraine in early July, and he reversed the decision a week later.
“We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves,” Trump said on July 8.
He added that NATO would pay for the weapons, which the alliance would then pass on to Ukraine: “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, a hundred per cent.” This deal, he said, was reached during the June NATO summit in The Hague.
Trump had also frozen aid to Ukraine in February following a falling-out with President Zelensky, accusing him of pushing the US into a “war that couldn’t be won.” Still, military supplies resumed weeks later.
The US has now sent around $134 billion in aid to Ukraine since 2022.
North Korea & Russia ties
Video released by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed Kim and Lavrov exchanging warm greetings, including a handshake and a hug.
The meeting also covered implementation of agreements reached during the June summit, with both sides vowing to expand military and economic cooperation.
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Pyongyang has already sent troops and military equipment to support Russia’s efforts in Ukraine, with reports suggesting more than 10,000 North Korean personnel have been deployed.
Lavrov praised Wonsan as an emerging tourist destination and noted the launch of twice-weekly flights between Moscow and Pyongyang, part of broader efforts to enhance bilateral ties despite international sanctions.
The tightening alliance between North Korea and Russia presents a new geopolitical challenge for Western powers and could complicate future U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region, particularly for former President Donald Trump, whose administration once pursued direct engagement with Kim.
The growing alignment between Kim and Putin signals a unified front against Western influence and could diminish U.S. leverage in future negotiations.
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