North Korea Reaffirms Support for Russia in Ukraine War, Threatens Nuclear Escalation

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to support Russia in its war against Ukraine and threatened to bolster his nuclear arsenal in response to growing military cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, Yonhap News reported on February 8.

“The army and people of [North Korea] will unwaveringly support and encourage the just cause of the Russian army and people in defending their sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, in line with the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between [North Korea] and Russia,” Kim stated, according to North Korea’s state media KCNA.

Western leaders and Ukrainian officials reported that since last fall, North Korea has deployed around 11,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces, primarily in Russia’s Kursk region.

The exact status of these troops remains unclear, with some intelligence sources indicating that many North Korean units have been pulled back from the front lines following heavy losses in battles against Ukrainian forces.

At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on February 7 that “Russia’s cooperation with North Korea will continue to expand.”

Earlier, reports emerged that since late December, ballistic missiles launched by Russian forces at Ukraine have shown a marked improvement in accuracy, now hitting their intended targets within a range of 50 to 100 meters, according to two senior Ukrainian sources.