Russian President Vladimir Putin is publicly praising North Korean troops, declaring they are fighting “side by side” with Russian forces as Moscow intensifies its military campaign in Ukraine. Speaking in a televised address, Putin acknowledges North Korea’s active participation on the battlefield, marking a significant and provocative development in the ongoing war. The statements come as Pyongyang officially confirms it has deployed forces to assist Russia, particularly during recent battles near Kursk, deepening fears of an expanding internationalization of the Ukraine conflict.
Putin’s remarks, delivered with overt gratitude, frame the North Korean soldiers as courageous allies helping Russia combat what the Kremlin characterizes as “Western aggression.” He emphasizes that the presence of North Korean forces represents a “shared struggle” against NATO-backed Ukraine and hails the soldiers for their “discipline, bravery, and unwavering loyalty.” Putin stops short of specifying the size of the North Korean contingent but notes their “critical contributions” in recent engagements.
Confirmation from Pyongyang’s state media follows swiftly, with official outlets stating that North Korean military units have been dispatched to support Russian operations around the embattled Kursk region. The North Korean government frames the deployment as an act of “international solidarity” against Western imperialism, aligning closely with longstanding propaganda narratives about resisting U.S. and allied influence.
This unprecedented move marks the first time North Korean troops have been formally acknowledged as participating in a foreign war since the Korean War in the 1950s. It also raises new alarms in Western capitals. U.S., NATO, and European Union leaders condemn the development as a dangerous escalation that risks widening the war far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Analysts warn that the involvement of North Korean forces could complicate diplomatic efforts, provoke additional sanctions, and further destabilize global security dynamics.
Back history shows that North Korea and Russia have enjoyed a strengthening relationship over the past several years. Both countries, isolated by Western sanctions and international criticism, have sought closer political, economic, and military ties. Intelligence reports dating back to 2023 suggested growing cooperation, including weapons transfers from Pyongyang to Moscow. These reports indicated that North Korean artillery shells, rockets, and small arms had been quietly funneled to Russia to bolster its depleted military stockpiles amid the prolonged Ukraine war. Now, with personnel officially on the battlefield, the alliance has taken a dramatic and provocative leap forward.
In Kyiv, Ukrainian officials denounce the deployment as an act of blatant foreign intervention and call for urgent international action. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office releases a statement condemning the “mercenary forces” aiding Russia’s invasion and appealing for stronger military and financial support from Western allies to counter the expanded threat.
The Biden administration says it is closely monitoring the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns that North Korea’s involvement could trigger severe consequences, including further crippling sanctions targeting both Pyongyang and Moscow. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg similarly labels North Korea’s participation as “an escalation that must not go unanswered.”
As the conflict grinds into another brutal phase, the deployment of North Korean forces alongside Russian troops threatens to pull more countries into the war’s orbit and cements the Ukraine conflict as a flashpoint in an increasingly fractured global order.
