Russian media shared video footage from the country’s defense ministry that showed North Korean troops in action, following the first official confirmation from Pyongyang and Moscow of their involvement in the Ukraine war.
Newsweek has reached out to the Kremlin for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Just months ago, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims by Ukraine and South Korea, denying reports that North Korean troops were involved in the conflict. However, Moscow and Pyongyang have now issued statements confirming the deployment, as ties between the two nations continue to deepen amid the ongoing war.
What To Know
Ukraine and South Korea said in December that Pyongyang had deployed an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 servicemen to southern Russia to fight Ukrainian forces.
Until Monday, neither Moscow nor Pyongyang had confirmed the deployment of troops from North Korea to fight Ukrainian forces.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described his troops deployed to Russia as “heroes” and said their operation to push Ukrainian forces out of Russia’s Kursk region was a “sacred mission.”
“They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland,” North Korean state news agency KCNA reported on Monday.
Kremlin news agency Tass separately released footage from the defense ministry showing Russian forces training North Korean troops in Kursk, the region where Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion last year. The video shows soldiers being instructed on firing grenade launchers, neutralizing enemy drones, and clearing trenches.
Back in October, Peskov had dismissed reports that Russia would use North Korean troops in its Ukraine war as “another fake news story.”
South Korea has said it considers the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia a violation of the UN Charter and the UN Security Council resolution.
What People Are Saying
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un spoke of the Russian alliance in a statement on Monday, saying Pyongyang is “pleased that the participation of the sub-units of our armed forces in the war has further strengthened the militant ties between the two countries.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin also said: “The Russian people will never forget the feat of the North Korean special forces fighters. We will always honor the [North Korean] heroes who gave their lives for Russia, for our common freedom, on a par with Russian brothers in arms.”
South Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement: “With their public admission of the deployment, while claiming they are fully in accordance with international law, they are once again mocking the international community. We strongly condemn this action.
“The dispatch of the North Korean troops, along with broader military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, constitutes a grave violation of international norms, including the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions.”
What Happens Next
The statements from North Korea and Russia could indicate further future involvement from Kim in the Ukraine war.
The post Russia Posts North Korean Troops Highlights Reel After Months of Denials appeared first on Newsweek.
