New Delhi: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hailed the troops from his country who fought alongside Russia in Kursk a year ago, state media KCNA said on Monday. Kim made the statement after a Russian delegation reached Pyongyang to take part in the inauguration of a memorial complex dedicated to those who died while supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Time for new agreements
During discussions in Pyongyang, Russia and North Korea agreed to “long-term” military cooperation. Moscow’s defence minister Andrey Belousov said, “We agreed with the DPRK defence ministry to place our military cooperation on a stable, long-term footing.” The agreement, he said, will hold from 2027-2031.
As has been reported, North Korea has sent thousands of troops, missiles and munitions to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. In return, North Korea has reportedly received financial aid, military technology, food and energy.
Furthermore, Kim said his government “would continue to fully support Russia’s policies of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests”, KCNA reported. Kim has steadily moved to elevate the North Korean troops who fought for Russia in the Kursk region into symbols of sacrifice and loyalty, using state ceremonies and memorial projects to publicly honour their role. “The souls of the fallen will live forever with the great honour they defended,” Kim said in a handwritten message at the memorial on Sunday, according to North Korean state media.
Moscow-Pyongyang ties
Relations between North Korea and Russia have deep historical roots which have become more strengthened in recent times. Even during the Cold War, the Soviet Union was a major backer of North Korea. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, ties between the two weakened, but both maintained diplomatic links and some amount of trade.
In the past few years, the relationship has strengthened again, largely driven by shared strategic interests. As Russia faces isolation and sanctions from Western countries, especially after the war in Ukraine, it has looked to partners like North Korea for support, who too have been under long-standing heavy international sanctions and Western isolationary tactics.