North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged complete backing for Moscow's military campaign against Ukraine during discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim confirmed Pyongyang's readiness to support Russian leadership decisions regarding the Ukrainian conflict. Lavrov conveyed warm greetings from Vladimir Putin during his three-day diplomatic visit to North Korea. The discussions focused on implementing agreements from the Kim-Putin summit held last year. Both leaders emphasized strengthening strategic and tactical cooperation between their nations.
South Korean intelligence agencies revealed that North Korea has dispatched approximately 13,000 military personnel to Russia since October. The deployment accompanied shipments of conventional weapons to assist Moscow's war effort against Ukraine. Defense Intelligence Agency reports indicate North Korea delivered 28,000 containers of weapons and artillery shells to Russian forces. Military analysts calculate this amounts to roughly 12 million rounds of 152-millimeter shells. Intelligence projections suggest additional troop deployments may occur during July or August.
Yang Moo-jin from the University of North Korean Studies believes the talks addressed deploying 6,000 additional North Korean soldiers to Russia. The expert suggests discussions covered advanced weapons technology cooperation and energy partnerships. Both diplomatic meetings occurred at the newly constructed Kalma beach resort in Wonsan. Russian state media reported that Putin expressed interest in continued direct contact with Kim Jong-un. The intensified cooperation reflects escalating tensions as Russia increases drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
South Korean intelligence agencies revealed that North Korea has dispatched approximately 13,000 military personnel to Russia since October. The deployment accompanied shipments of conventional weapons to assist Moscow's war effort against Ukraine. Defense Intelligence Agency reports indicate North Korea delivered 28,000 containers of weapons and artillery shells to Russian forces. Military analysts calculate this amounts to roughly 12 million rounds of 152-millimeter shells. Intelligence projections suggest additional troop deployments may occur during July or August.
Yang Moo-jin from the University of North Korean Studies believes the talks addressed deploying 6,000 additional North Korean soldiers to Russia. The expert suggests discussions covered advanced weapons technology cooperation and energy partnerships. Both diplomatic meetings occurred at the newly constructed Kalma beach resort in Wonsan. Russian state media reported that Putin expressed interest in continued direct contact with Kim Jong-un. The intensified cooperation reflects escalating tensions as Russia increases drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
