North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly reiterated his country’s “unconditional support” for all of Russia’s actions in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, according to North Korean state media (KCNA). This declaration came during high-level strategic talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is on a three-day visit to North Korea.
Kim met Lavrov in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, where the two nations’ foreign ministers held their second strategic dialogue. They pledged further cooperation under a partnership treaty signed last year, which notably includes a mutual defense pact.
According to KCNA, Kim told Lavrov that the steps taken by the allies in response to evolving global geopolitics would “contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world.”
Lavrov had earlier met with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, in Wonsan. They issued a joint statement vowing support to safeguard each other’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russian media reported on Saturday that Lavrov described the two countries’ ties as an “invincible fighting brotherhood” during his meeting with Kim, and thanked him for the troops deployed to Russia.
Relations between Russia and North Korea have seen a dramatic deepening over the past two years of the war in Ukraine. Pyongyang has reportedly deployed more than 10,000 troops and arms to Russia to bolster Moscow’s military campaign. Kim’s government has also pledged to send approximately 6,000 military engineers and builders to assist with reconstruction efforts in Russia’s Kursk region.
