Post by : Meena
Hassan
In a recent New Year’s letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russian President Vladimir Putin has extolled the “indestructible bond” shared between Russia and North Korea. This letter, delivered to Pyongyang last week, underscores the deep military collaboration between the two nations, especially the involvement of North Korean soldiers supporting Russia in its military operations in Ukraine.
Putin characterized the presence of North Korean troops as a profound symbol of the fortified brotherhood linking Moscow and Pyongyang. According to assessments from South Korean and Western intel, over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been dispatched to Russia in 2024, primarily stationed in the vital Kursk area adjacent to the Ukrainian frontier. In addition to troop support, North Korea has also provided substantial military assets, including artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rockets, actively contributing to Russia's military campaigns.
In his correspondence, Putin commended the courage and service of North Korean forces, remarking that “the brave engagement of the soldiers of the Korean People’s Army in battles for the liberation of the Kursk region from adversaries, along with the crucial efforts of Korean engineers on Russian soil, clearly demonstrate the indestructible bond” enjoyed by both nations. He further highlighted that the aims of a pivotal treaty aimed at comprehensive strategic partnership, established during his June 2024 visit to Pyongyang, have been aptly realized through their joint endeavors.
This treaty notably bolstered the Moscow-Pyongyang relationship and incorporates a mutual defense clause mandating that each party furnish immediate military help to the other should aggression occur, thus reinforcing their military alliance. Putin added that the strengthening collaboration between Russia and North Korea is crucial for fostering a balanced and multipolar global order, establishing both countries as formidable contenders against Western geopolitical control.
On another note, South Korean intelligence estimates that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers engaged in the conflict in Russia have perished. North Korea formally acknowledged its troop deployment for the first time in April 2024, admitting some casualties among its soldiers. Following this, Kim Jong Un personally met with families of the fallen, sharing condolences and empathizing with their “unbearable pain” over their loss.
Images released by North Korean state media show an emotional scene of Kim embracing a returning soldier, who appeared visibly distressed, hiding his face in Kim’s chest. This poignant moment illustrates the grave human cost of the conflict for Pyongyang.
In the wake of the military agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang, South Korea’s government under President Yoon Suk Yeol hinted at possibly reevaluating its long-standing arms embargo against Ukraine. However, no decisive actions toward supplying military aid to Kyiv have been initiated thus far.
The intensifying military cooperation between Russia and North Korea represents a crucial transformation in the global power landscape, notably amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. It underscores the emerging strategic alliance between the two nations united in their resistance to Western influence, posing new inquiries about the future environment of international security and diplomacy.
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