North Korean leader Kim promises full support to Russia, discusses partnership with Putin

(Patria) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will "fully support" the Russian army as a "fraternal duty", and Russian President Vladimir Putin called the ties between the two countries "special", the state-run KCNA news agency reported this morning, citing Reuters.

Kim and Putin held a meeting on Wednesday on the sidelines of China's celebration marking Japan's formal surrender in World War II in Beijing.
The two were alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping at a major military parade, the first such gathering of leaders from the three countries since the early days of the Cold War.

Kim's trip to Beijing offered him his first opportunity to meet with Putin and Xi, as well as to mingle with more than twenty other national leaders attending the events.

"Comrade Kim Jong Un and President Putin exchanged sincere opinions on important international and regional issues," KCNA said.

Putin "highly praised" North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine and said the relations between the two countries are "special relations of trust, friendship and alliance," KCNA added.

North Korea has sent soldiers, artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

South Korea's intelligence agency estimated this week that about 2,000 North Korean soldiers sent to fight for Russia have been killed.

North Korea is believed to plan to deploy another 6,000 soldiers, with about 1,000 already in Russia.

Kim and Putin discussed long-term plans for partnership in detail and confirmed their "firm will" to elevate bilateral relations to a high level, according to KCNA.

Last year, the two leaders signed a mutual defense agreement, which calls on each side to come to the aid of the other in the event of an armed attack.