On Tuesday, North Korea publicly released a statement in which Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, for supporting troops on the Kursk battlefield.
The party-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun featured Putin’s statement, issued the day before, on its front page.
In his statement, Putin praised the deployed North Korean forces for acting out of solidarity, a sense of justice, and true camaraderie. He added, “I sincerely express my gratitude to the State Affairs Commission chairman, Kim Jong Un, the entire leadership, and the people of North Korea.”
Putin emphasized that the Russian people will never forget the heroic deeds of the North Korean special forces and expressed confidence that the friendship, good-neighborliness, and cooperation between the two countries, solidified on the battlefield, will continue to thrive in all areas.
The newspaper also highlighted comments from Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, and military experts praising the contributions of North Korean forces and underscoring the development of North Korea-Russia relations.
North Korea officially acknowledged its troop deployment to Russia for the first time in six months, seemingly attempting to calm public sentiment by conveying Russia’s gratitude and reassuring its citizens.
The Rodong Sinmun reported that Pak Young-il, deputy director of the General Political Bureau of the North Korean People’s Army, departed Pyongyang on Monday. Senior military officers and the Russian embassy’s military attaché saw off the delegation at the airport.
While the newspaper stated that the delegation’s purpose is to participate in the 3rd International Anti-Fascist Congress in Russia, the timing is notable. The delegation’s visit comes just a day after North Korea officially recognized its troop deployment, raising questions about potential discussions on follow-up measures. Additionally, there is speculation regarding Kim’s possible attendance at Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
On Monday, North Korea officially acknowledged for the first time that its troops had made significant contributions to Russia’s recovery of Kursk territory. On April 26, Russia also confirmed for the first time that it had received support from North Korean forces in reclaiming Kursk territory.