-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
Russian leader Vladimir Putin praised North Korea’s military contribution to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, calling North Korean troops “heroic.” The message was addressed to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and comes amid deepening military ties between the two countries, according to an article published by The Guardian on August 15.
Putin’s letter commemorated the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, drawing historical parallels to the current collaboration between the nations.
He referenced the wartime cooperation of Soviet and North Korean forces, stating that “the bonds of militant friendship, goodwill and mutual aid… remain solid and reliable even today,” as evidenced by North Korean soldiers’ “heroic participation … in liberating the territory of Kursk region from the Ukrainian occupationists.”
These remarks follow earlier confirmation, in April 2025, by both Putin and Kim Jong Un that North Korea had indeed deployed troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. North Korean involvement, involving thousands of soldiers, reportedly includes training and integration with Russian military operations in the Kursk area.
The letter marks another sign of the increasingly close relationship between Russia and North Korea, cemented by the 2024 Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Signed in June 2024 and effective since December, the treaty includes mutual defense commitments and deepens security and political cooperation.
Earlier, it was reported that Russia is deeply expanding its military cooperation with North Korea, with Moscow effectively “making North Korea a combat power—as well as bankrolling its war machine.”
