North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly justified his country’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that it was an exercise of North Korea’s sovereign rights. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim characterized the support for Russia as a necessary act to defend a “brother nation,” affirming the legitimacy of North Korea’s military actions in the conflict.
Kim specifically praised the soldiers who took part in the “Kursk operation,” referring to them as national heroes and symbols of North Korean honor. His remarks indicate a strong sense of national pride in the country’s military involvement and reflect a broader alignment with Russian interests, especially as military collaboration between the two nations deepens.
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Further emphasizing North Korea’s loyalty to Russia, Kim warned that Pyongyang would not hesitate to use military force if the United States continues what he described as provocative actions against Russia. This statement signals a hardening of North Korea’s stance and raises tensions regarding its potential role in global military conflicts beyond the Korean Peninsula.
Although North Korea had been rumored to be supporting Russia for months, it only officially confirmed in April that over 10,000 troops and weapons had been deployed to aid Moscow. This confirmation came in the context of an expanding military alliance between North Korea and Russia, formalized by a strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous year.
