North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reiterated his country’s commitment to its defence cooperation with Russia in a message marking the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
In his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim congratulated Russia on Victory Day and reaffirmed Pyongyang’s intention to prioritise its strategic partnership with Moscow.
According to North Korean state media KCNA, Kim said North Korea would “give top priority” to its relationship with Russia and fully implement obligations under the inter-state treaty between the two countries.
Russia and North Korea signed a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” in 2024 during a visit by Putin to Pyongyang. The agreement includes a mutual defence clause.
Reports have also indicated that North Korea deployed an estimated 14,000 troops to support Russian forces in the Kursk region during the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Western and South Korean assessments suggesting heavy casualties, including more than 6,000 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Russia marked a scaled-down Victory Day military parade on Saturday, amid heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The conflict, now more than four years long, remains the deadliest in Europe since World War II, with Moscow still struggling to secure a decisive breakthrough.
Separately, Russia and Ukraine confirmed on Friday that they had agreed to a three-day ceasefire proposal announced by United States President Donald Trump, which will run from May 9 to May 11.
