North Korean FM visits Moscow, promises to support Russia until 'victory' in Ukraine

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui promised that North Korea would stand with Russia "until the day of victory" during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Nov. 1.

Choe's visit comes as 8,000 North Korean troops are reportedly preparing to enter combat alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast.

"Our traditional, historically friendly relations, which have traveled the tested path of history, today … are rising to a new level of relations of invincible military comradeship," Choe told Lavrov.

Choe went on to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin's "wise leadership" and said North Korea is convinced Russia will "achieve a great victory in their sacred struggle to protect the sovereign rights and security interests of their state."

"And we also assure that until the day of victory we will firmly stand alongside our Russian comrades," she said.

Moscow and Pyongyang signed a strategic partnership agreement in June, pledging to provide military support to one another if either comes under attack. The Russian parliament ratified the defense treaty in October, amid reports that North Korea was sending troops along with weapons to aid Russia's war against Ukraine.

Kyiv has said that North Korea has sent nearly 12,000 troops to Russia, including 500 officers and three generals, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a press conference on Oct. 31 that at least 8,000 North Korean forces have been deployed to Russia's Kursk Oblast and are expected to participate in active combat in the coming days.

"North Korean troops have not yet engaged in combat, but this is a matter of days, not months," Zelensky said on Oct. 31, urging Ukraine's allies to mount a more aggressive response to the Moscow-Pyongyang alliance.

"When deployed, they will be pushed forward, sustaining heavy losses, as Russia tries to minimize its own troop mobilization."

Choe and Lavrov did not mention the reports of troop deployment in their remarks. Zelensky has said that Russia has confirmed North Korea's direct involvement in the war to the West via military intelligence channels.

‘A war of two countries against one’ — Zelensky urges Western allies to take decisive action on North Korean troop involvement

In a lengthy post on social media on Oct. 31, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western allies to develop “concrete solutions” to provide additional supports for Ukraine as North Korean troops prepare to engage Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. North Korean soldiers were deployed to Kursk Oblas…

The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

Source link

Related posts:

Ukraine war latest: North Korean soldiers reportedly 50 km from Ukraine's border Ukraine war latest: Russia to deploy North Korean troops to combat zone on Oct. 27-28, Kyiv says This is how North Korean troops could be used in Russia’s war in Ukraine Ukraine war latest: First North Korean troops arrive in Kursk Oblast to participate in Russia's war against Ukraine Ukraine war latest: Russia claims capture of Selydove, Kyiv hasn't confirmed Ukraine war latest: US confirms North Korean troops in Russia; Zelensky preparing plan to withstand war Ukraine war latest: Russia confirms North Korea's involvement in war to West, Kyiv says 'A war of two countries against one' — Zelensky urges Western allies to take decisive action on North Korean troop involvement