Russia, North Korea agree ‘long-term’ military cooperation

Over the weekend, two high-ranking Russian officials made a state visit to North Korea, where they participated in the dedication of a memorial honoring soldiers who died while fighting in Ukraine and finalized a new defense agreement. The Russian Defense Minister, Andrei Belousov, and the head of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, were among those present during the ceremonies and discussions.

The collaboration between Russia and North Korea has grown stronger since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pyongyang has provided military support to Moscow, aiding in the defense of the Kursk region, which Ukraine briefly controlled during a counteroffensive. This partnership was formalized in 2024 when both nations signed a mutual defense pact during a summit between Kim Jong Un and President Vladimir Putin.

Defense Talks and Ceremonial Events

Belousov arrived in North Korea on Sunday, engaging in meetings with Kim Jong Un and other top military leaders. The visit included both formal negotiations and symbolic activities in the capital. Images from the Russian Defense Ministry showed Belousov greeting Kim with a handshake, underscoring the close ties between the two countries.

We agreed with the DPRK Defense Ministry to place our military cooperation on a stable, long-term footing,” Belousov stated. “We are ready to sign a plan this year for Russian-Korean military cooperation for the period of 2027-2031,” he added.

During the trip, Belousov also honored North Korean troops who had fought alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. He presented military awards to servicemen involved in the conflict, while the North Korean government unveiled a memorial in Pyongyang for soldiers who lost their lives in the battle against Ukraine.

Putin sent a telegram to Kim Jong Un, commending the efforts of North Korean soldiers in reclaiming parts of Kursk for Russia. Volodin attended the memorial ceremony, marking the event as a significant diplomatic gesture. Casualty figures remain unclear, but South Korea estimated in September that up to 2,000 North Korean troops had been killed during the campaign. Only two soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces.

To view the accompanying video, JavaScript must be enabled, and users should upgrade to an HTML5-compatible web browser.