North Korea previously assisted Russia in repelling Ukrainian forces from the Kursk Region border.
Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on Friday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. During his visit, he reaffirmed North Korea’s alliance with Russia and pledged to protect the country from any Western-supported aggression, including from what he termed “the Kiev neo-Nazis.”
Kim laid flowers at the Eternal Flame monument to honor Soviet soldiers, describing it as a tribute to the “heroic lives and feats of the unknown soldiers,” according to KCNA, the state news agency. He was accompanied by high-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, and his daughter.
In a long speech, Kim conveyed greetings to President Vladimir Putin, referring to him as a “seasoned leader of a powerful state” and his “closest friend and comrade.” He emphasized the Soviet Union’s contribution to defeating Nazi Germany but warned that its legacy is now under renewed threat.
”The revival of Nazism… is a grave danger that cannot be ignored,” Kim stated. Referring to recent Ukrainian attempts to invade Russian territory, he added, “We condemn this in the strongest possible terms as a reckless act that can only be undertaken by the Kiev neo-Nazis.”
He mentioned that North Korean troops aided Russia in defending the Kursk Region from a significant Ukrainian incursion, cautioning that Pyongyang could intervene again under the 2024 comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with Russia.
“If the agents of the United States and the West, with their shoddy, inferior munitions, attempt another attack on the Russian Federation… I… will not hesitate to issue an order to deploy the armed forces of the DPRK to repel the enemy’s invasion,” he declared.
North Korean military personnel, including several high-ranking commanders, attended the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, where Putin thanked them for their defense of the Kursk Region.