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North Korean Boots in Ukraine? Lavrov Says It’s Up to Kim Jong Un
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in North Korea for an official visit, reaffirming Moscow’s growing military and political alignment with Pyongyang amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to Russian state media RIA Novosti, Lavrov described North Korea’s involvement in military operations in Russia’s Kursk region as a “sincere manifestation of solidarity.”
He stated that Russia had “no reason to refuse” the support offered by North Korea, characterizing the assistance as a demonstration of “brotherly relations” between the two nations.
Lavrov emphasized that the deployment of North Korean troops in support of Russian operations was a decision made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“We proceed from the fact that the DPRK independently determines the forms in which it implements our strategic partnership agreement,” Lavrov said, referring to the bilateral defense treaty signed by Kim and President Vladimir Putin during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in the summer of 2024.
Under the agreement, both parties pledged mutual military assistance in the event of an attack. Lavrov stated that the partnership was now being implemented in practical terms.
During his visit, Lavrov held talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. He noted that Pyongyang had reaffirmed its “unequivocal support” for all objectives of Russia’s so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine, as well as for the actions of the Russian military.
Choe reportedly confirmed North Korea’s full backing of Russia’s position on protecting its “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
The visit comes amid growing concerns from Ukraine and South Korea regarding reports of further North Korean deployments. In late June, members of South Korea’s National Assembly, citing intelligence from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), reported that Pyongyang may be preparing to send additional military personnel to support Russian forces in Ukraine by July or August.
According to those reports, North Korea is conducting recruitment efforts to reinforce an existing contingent of approximately 11,000 troops, previously deployed to assist in Russian operations in the Kursk region.
Lavrov’s visit to Pyongyang underscores the increasingly close military coordination between Russia and North Korea, as Moscow seeks external support to sustain its war effort in Ukraine.
Earlier, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that Russia is preparing to deploy up to 50 military sappers from Laos to the Kursk region under the guise of humanitarian demining. Kyiv warned this move is aimed at legitimizing the presence of foreign military personnel supporting operations against Ukraine. Laotian officials also pledged to offer rehabilitation services for wounded Russian soldiers.
