Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed North Korean troops sent to fight in Ukraine as “heroic” in a letter to Kim Jong Un, North Korean state media reported. The letter was written to mark the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule, and Putin recalled the historical bonds between Soviet Red Army units and North Korean forces that fought together to end Japan’s colonial occupation.
Putin emphasized that the bonds of militant friendship and mutual aid between the two nations remain solid and reliable even today. He praised the North Korean soldiers’ participation in liberating the Kursk Region from Ukrainian occupation, saying, “The Russian people will keep forever the memories of their bravery and self-sacrifice.” The Russian president also expressed his desire to continue working together with North Korea to defend their sovereignty and contribute to establishing a just and multi-polarized world order.
North Korea confirmed in April that it had deployed a contingent of soldiers to the front line in Ukraine, alongside Russian troops. According to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, Pyongyang sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, along with artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems. Reports indicate that around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting for Russia.
A Russian delegation led by Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma, visited Pyongyang to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation. Volodin thanked Kim Jong Un for sending “excellent soldiers” to Ukraine, saying that Russia would never forget the North Korean troops who fought at the cost of their lives in Russia. Kim Jong Un praised the two countries’ relationship as “the stablest comradeship and a comprehensive strategic companionship”.
The letter from Putin came just days ahead of a summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump, the first between a sitting US and Russian president since 2021. Trump seeks to broker an end to Russia’s more than three-year war in Ukraine. Kim Jong Un and Putin recently had a phone call, agreeing to expand bilateral cooperation and closer contact between the state leaderships.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry has condemned North Korea’s military deployment in Ukraine, accusing Pyongyang of violating UN Security Council resolutions. The international community is closely watching the developments in Ukraine and the implications of the growing partnership between Russia and North Korea.
The praise from Putin for North Korean troops marks a significant moment in the strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the international community will be monitoring the role of North Korean soldiers in the region and the potential implications for global security. The upcoming summit between Putin and Trump will also be closely watched for any signs of progress towards ending the war in Ukraine.
