North Korea confirmed for the first time on Monday that it had sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The North Korean military referred to their involvement as a “sacred mission” designed to strengthen the ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.

According to the state-run KCNA news agency, North Korean soldiers helped Russian forces “completely liberate” the Kursk border region, following an order from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

This admission comes just days after Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov praised the North Korean troops for their role in the liberation of the Kursk region during a video conference with President Vladimir Putin on April 26. Putin claimed that Russia had regained control of Kursk, a region where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last year, although Ukraine has denied Russia’s claims.

North Korea’s acknowledgment of its troops’ involvement follows reports from the US, South Korea, the UK, and Ukraine about sightings of North Korean soldiers on the frontlines, nearly a year ago. The North Korean government explained that Kim Jong Un saw the participation of its armed forces as a mission to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two nations, promote their prosperity, and protect North Korea’s honor.

In June 2024, Kim Jong Un and Putin signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, committing both nations to military support in the event of war. KCNA also reported that Kim had praised the soldiers who participated in the operation as heroes, and announced plans to erect a monument in Pyongyang to honor those who took part, with flowers to be placed on the graves of those who were killed.

Meanwhile, the US State Department condemned North Korea and other “third countries” for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, urging an end to the conflict and Moscow’s support for Pyongyang.

ANI