Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has sent a message to his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui, in which he emphasizes the deepening of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. The statement was distributed by the North Korean state agency KCNA on the occasion of Korea's Liberation Day.
Lavrov states that Russia and North Korea are acting to establish a "new and just world order, based on true equality and national interests". He further indicates that Moscow intends to expand cooperation with Pyongyang in all areas and to work for regional and international security.
"The participation of servicemen from the Korean People's Army in the operations to push out the Ukrainian Nazi clique and foreign mercenaries from the Kursk region is clear proof of the tradition of brotherhood-in-arms, forged by heroic previous generations," the Russian Foreign Minister stated.
Military cooperation
According to assessments by Ukrainian and Western services, North Korea is assisting Russia in the war against Ukraine through the supply of military equipment, ammunition, and the deployment of troops. Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened their bilateral contacts following the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty.
According to data cited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, by the end of 2024, North Korea had sent approximately 14,000 troops to the Kursk region. According to the Ukrainian side, they assisted Russian forces in repelling the Ukrainian operation in the region.
On August 9, Zelensky stated that Russia was expected to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean soldiers on its territory. This claim has not been independently verified, nor publicly confirmed by Moscow or Pyongyang.
Ukrainian military intelligence also reported that a North Korean missile unit is being deployed in Western Russia. According to this information, the unit could be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine, with the Voronezh region being a possible deployment site.
Context of relations
The military rapprochement between Russia and North Korea is a subject of international attention due to concerns that it could influence the course of the war in Ukraine and security in Northeast Asia. A number of countries and international organizations point out that the supply of weapons and military equipment between the two countries may violate UN sanctions regimes.