North Korea reaffirms commitment to Russia's war in Ukraine as bilateral ties deepen

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly reaffirmed Pyongyang's support for Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, characterising the conflict as a "sacred" war and vowing to assist Moscow in achieving victory. State media reported that the declaration followed a high-level meeting between Kim and Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, during which they discussed deepening military ties and a cooperation plan covering the period from 2027 to 2031.

The leaders attended the inauguration of a memorial complex honouring North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine, an event coinciding with the first anniversary of Moscow's recovery of the Kursk region. During the ceremony, Kim paid tribute to the "unrivalled bravery" and "noble sacrifice" of the troops, participating in a burial service for the war dead while the event featured a concert, fireworks, and an air force flyover.

The diplomatic engagement builds upon a military treaty signed in 2024, which obligates both nations to provide immediate mutual assistance in the event of an attack. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the "extraordinary bravery and genuine devotion" of North Korean troops in a letter to Kim, South Korean estimates suggest approximately 2,000 North Korean personnel have been killed in the conflict.

Reports indicate that North Korean troops were instructed to kill themselves rather than be captured, with only two soldiers taken alive by Ukrainian authorities currently in custody. Despite these developments, North Korea continues to describe South Korea as its "most hostile" adversary, even as Seoul vows to act proactively to restore trust with Pyongyang.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung marked the anniversary of the 2018 inter-Korean summit by expressing hope that the North would trust the sincerity of his government. This diplomatic overture contrasts sharply with the intensifying military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, which analysts note involves the transfer of missiles, munitions, and thousands of troops from North Korea to Russia.

The institutionalisation of this partnership remains a focal point of regional security dynamics, with the new cooperation plan intended to formalise support for the duration of the current conflict and beyond. The meeting underscored the depth of the relationship between the two regimes, moving beyond transactional exchanges to a structured framework for military integration.