North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has reassured Russia of “unconditional support” from Pyongyang to Moscow in its every effort to resolve the war in Ukraine, its state media reported on Sunday.

Mr Kim’s continued diplomatic help from North Korea came as he met with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, who was on a three-day visit to North Korea and described the two countries’ relations as “an invincible fighting brotherhood”.

The two leaders met in North Korea’s eastern coastal city of Wonsan on Saturday, where both countries held their high-level strategic dialogue, for the second time this year, pledging mutual cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang under a partnership treaty signed last year.

Russian media said Mr Lavrov also thanked the North Korean leader for the troops deployed to Russia.

The Russian foreign minister also passed on a message from Putin to Mr Kim, hoping for more direct contacts in future, reported Tass news agency.

Russia and North Korea have also signed a mutual defence treaty, which obliges them to immediately provide military assistance using “all means” if either is attacked – marking the strongest military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greets Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Wonsan, North Korea (Reuters)

“Kim Jong Un reaffirmed that the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis,” KCNA said, using the acronym for North Korea’s formal name.

Mr Kim told the Russian foreign minister that the steps taken by the allies in response to radically evolving global geopolitics will contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported.

Mr Lavrov also met his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui in Wonsan on Saturday where the two signed a joint statement offering support to safeguard each other’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Alienated on the world stage and facing crunching financial sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has extended its diplomatic ties with the hermit kingdom North Korea and sought military assistance in soldiers and ammunition.

The ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have soared to their historic best during the last two years, with North Korea deploying more than 10,000 of its troops and arms to Russia to help with Vladimir Putin’s invasion of its smaller neighbour.

This comes as on Sunday, South Korean defence ministry’s intelligence arm reported to the parliament that North continued to supply artillery ammunition to Russia and has so far shipped about 12 million rounds.

In another display of their growing bilateral ties, North Korea last month agreed to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in Russia’s Kursk region where Ukraine launched an audacious cross-border incursion in August.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his country’s “unconditional support” for Russia in the Ukraine war, telling Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday that he strongly believes Moscow will emerge victorious from the conflict.

The exchange between the two was reported by North Korea state news agency KCNA on Sunday, which described the meeting between the so-called supreme leader and Lavrov as taking place in “an atmosphere full of warm comradely trust.”

A Tightening Partnership

Kim and Lavrov met in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan during the Russian top diplomat’s three-day visit to North Korea, the latest in a recent series of trips meant to further tighten the relationship between the two pariah countries.

The strategic partnership between the two countries, which position themselves as allies against the same West which has isolated them, has quickly escalated in recent years—in a way that experts consider dangerous. If in the first months following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022 the relationship between the two countries was based on rather practical cash-for-weapon exchange, Pyongyang has recently gone as far in its support as sending more than 10,000 troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine.

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toast during a reception at the Mongnangwan Reception House in Pyongyang on June… In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toast during a reception at the Mongnangwan Reception House in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024. More VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Kim’s recent statement to Lavrov suggests that there is no turning back for North Korea, even as the country has admitted losing hundreds of soldiers in Ukraine.

“Kim Jong Un reaffirmed that the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis,” KCNA wrote on Sunday.

Russia seems equally as enthusiastic about the friendship between the two countries. On Saturday, Lavrov was quoted on Russian media as celebrating Moscow and Pyongyang as “an invincible fighting brotherhood.” The Russian diplomat also reportedly thanked Kim for the deployment of his country’s troops to Ukraine.

What Is Happening In Ukraine

On the same day of the meeting between Kim and Lavrov, Ukraine said that Russia fired hundreds of drones and long-range missiles across the country overnight, in what the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) described as the third combined strike with over 400 drones and missiles in July alone.

“Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, of which more than half were ‘Shaheds’ [Iranian-made drones],” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening speech. According to the Ukrainian air force, 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles were brought down, while one missile and about 20 drones had hit “five locations.”

“The Russians are intensifying terror against cities and communities to increasingly intimidate our people. But despite Moscow’s plans, the air defense forces are achieving good results,” Zelensky wrote on X.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un expresses unconditional support for Russia’s war in Ukraine during Lavrov’s visit, reinforcing their alliance.

www.ft.com

North Korea has unconditionally pledged its support for Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine during a recent visit from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. This significant development highlights the strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow amid growing international tensions.

6 Key Takeaways North Korea backs Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Kim Jong Un meets with Lavrov in North Korea.

Russia warns US against exploiting alliances.

Support for Russia is described as unconditional.

Multiple news outlets report on this visit.

Tensions between North Korea and the US highlighted.

As of 2025-07-13 18:35:00, Kim Jong Un expressed his commitment to assist Russia in resolving the conflict, signaling a potential shift in geopolitical alliances. This collaboration raises questions about the implications for global security and the future of international relations.

Fast Answer: North Korea’s unconditional support for Russia in Ukraine marks a pivotal moment in global geopolitics, potentially reshaping alliances and escalating tensions worldwide.

The alignment between North Korea and Russia prompts critical reflection on the evolving nature of international diplomacy. What does this mean for Western nations? Can the global community effectively respond to these shifting alliances?

North Korea’s backing may embolden Russia in its military endeavors.

Increased collaboration could lead to enhanced military and economic exchanges.

This partnership may challenge existing international sanctions and diplomatic efforts.

The growing alliance between North Korea and Russia poses a significant risk to global stability, necessitating close monitoring and strategic responses from the international community.

As these geopolitical dynamics unfold, it is crucial for nations to reassess their strategies and foster dialogue to mitigate potential conflicts. Will the global community rise to the challenge?

13 July 2025 13:39

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has once again expressed his “unconditional support for all Russian measures” in the ongoing war in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the North Korean city of Wonsan.

The encounter took place at a newly constructed beach resort in Wonsan, on North Korea’s east coast, signalling Pyongyang’s deepening involvement in the conflict, Caliber.Az reports, citing American media.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim reaffirmed his government’s commitment to back Russia’s military actions “unconditionally” and to encourage further measures taken by Moscow in Ukraine. The official photos released by Russia’s Foreign Ministry showed a cordial atmosphere, with Kim and Lavrov smiling, shaking hands, and conversing aboard a yacht.

Lavrov’s visit arrives amid growing military cooperation between the two nations. Ukrainian intelligence reports indicate that North Korea is preparing to send an additional 25,000 to 30,000 troops to support Russia’s intensified offensive, supplementing the estimated 11,000 North Korean soldiers already deployed last year.

This diplomatic exchange comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions between the US and Russia. US President Donald Trump has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for insincerity in peace negotiations and pledged increased support for Ukraine, underscoring the fragile and complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding the conflict.

By Khagan Isayev

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered Moscow his full support for its war in Ukraine during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Pyongyang state media said Sunday.

Lavrov’s visit to North Korea was the latest in a series of high-profile trips by top Moscow officials as both countries deepen military and political ties amid Russia’s offensive against Kyiv.

Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to Russia’s Kursk region to oust Ukrainian forces and has also provided the Russian army with artillery shells and missiles.

Moscow said Lavrov’s talks with Kim were held in a “warm comradely atmosphere.”

Lavrov expressed “sincere gratitude to Pyongyang” for its role in Kursk and support of Russia’s operation, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Moscow also said the two sides “agreed” that the West was to blame for “the growing tension” on the Korean peninsula.

The ministry earlier posted a video on Telegram of the two men shaking hands and greeting each other with a hug.

It said the talks were held in Wonsan, a city on North Korea’s east coast where a massive resort was opened earlier this month — one of leader Kim’s pet projects.

Kim told Lavrov that Pyongyang was “ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis”, KCNA said.

The North Korean leader also expressed a “firm belief that the Russian army and people would surely win victory in accomplishing the sacred cause of defending the dignity and basic interests of the country”.

He lauded Putin’s “outstanding leadership”, the report said.

The two men otherwise discussed “important matters for faithfully implementing the agreements made at the historic DPRK-Russia summit talks in June 2024”, KCNA said, referring to North Korea by its official acronym.

Lavrov told Kim that Putin “hopes for continued direct contacts in the very near future”, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

He left Pyongyang and landed in Beijing on Sunday to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers’ Council, TASS reported on its Telegram account.

Invincible alliance

Ahead of Lavrov’s recent visit, Russia announced that it would begin twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Lavrov lauded Wonsan as “a good tourist attraction”, adding: “We hope it will be popular not only with local citizens, but also with Russians.”

KCNA also issued a statement on Sunday on the meeting between Lavrov and his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui, held a day earlier in the coastal city, saying that bilateral ties were becoming an “invincible alliance”.

Moscow “expressed its firm support for the DPRK side in its just efforts for defending the security of the state” during the meeting, KCNA said.

In return, Choe demonstrated “full sympathy and support for all the measures taken by the Russian government to remove the root cause of the Ukrainian conflict”.

TASS earlier reported that Lavrov thanked the “heroic” North Korean soldiers who have been deployed to aid Russia during the ministerial meeting.

Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting for Russia, Seoul has said.

North Korea only confirmed it had deployed troops to support Russia’s war in April, and admitted its soldiers had been killed in combat.

Both sides “emphasised their determination to jointly counter the hegemonic aspirations of extra-regional players, which are leading to escalating tensions in Northeast Asia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region”, Russia’s foreign ministry said.

The two heavily sanctioned nations signed a military deal last year, including a mutual defence clause, during a rare visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang.

AFP