Latest news with #ComprehensiveStrategicPartnershipTreaty
Jordan News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Jordan News
Pyongyang Affirms Unconditional Support for Moscow in Ukraine War - Jordan News
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed Pyongyang's unconditional support for all actions taken by the Russian leadership to decisively resolve the situation in Ukraine, according to the country's state media. اضافة اعلان The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Kim expressed his 'firm belief that the Russian army and people will surely achieve victory in their sacred mission of defending the country's dignity and core interests.' Minister Lavrov, in turn, confirmed that both Russia and North Korea remain fully committed to their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, pledging to uphold it strictly. Speaking at a reception hosted in his honor by the North Korean government, Lavrov said: 'Both Russia and North Korea strictly adhere to their obligations under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, and we will continue to do so,' according to the Russian news agency TASS. On Saturday, Lavrov delivered a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim Jong-un as part of his official visit to Pyongyang. During his meeting with Kim, Lavrov said, 'President Vladimir Putin sends his warmest greetings and reaffirms his commitment to all agreements reached,' according to Russia's Sputnik News Agency. He added that President Putin looks forward to continued direct communication with Kim in the near future. Lavrov praised the military alliance between Russia and North Korea during the visit, which aimed to reaffirm their strategic partnership. 'Our North Korean friends have once again expressed their unwavering support for all objectives of the special military operation and for the actions of the Russian leadership and military,' Lavrov stated. For his part, Kim Jong-un described Lavrov's visit as 'a pivotal moment in the course of cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.' 'This visit marks a very significant milestone in elevating our exceptional and strong alliance to a new level,' Kim said. 'It is also a crucial moment in advancing cooperation in various fields.' Lavrov arrived Friday in the North Korean city of Wonsan to hold talks with his counterpart Choe Son-hui as part of the second round of strategic dialogue between the two countries' foreign ministers. His visit comes amid media reports suggesting the possible deployment of up to 30,000 additional North Korean troops to Russia. North Korean soldiers had previously been sent to the Kursk region in western Russia to help retake areas recaptured by Ukrainian forces during last summer's counteroffensive.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Ukraine spy chief says 40% of Russian ammunition is North Korean
North Korea is now supplying as much as 40% of Russia's ammunition for the war in Ukraine as the partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow deepens, according to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence. Kim Jong Un's regime is also sending other weapons to Russia, including ballistic missiles and artillery systems, Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Bloomberg News. Russia is providing money and technology to North Korea in return, helping to ease Pyongyang's international isolation, he said. "Those are good weapons," Budanov, who attributed 60% of losses in military-intelligence units in the past three months to strikes by North Korean-made artillery, said in his office in Kyiv. "North Korea has huge stockpiles and production goes on around the clock." Russia has intensified military ties with North Korea since President Vladimir Putin signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with Kim in June last year, his first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years. North Korea sent thousands of troops to help Moscow push Ukrainian forces out of territory they'd seized in Russia's Kursk region. With Kim vowing to back Russia "unconditionally" in the war, western intelligence estimates that Pyongyang has sent millions of artillery rounds to Putin's army. Bloomberg News could not independently verify Budanov's assessment of Russia's weapons stockpile from North Korea. A series of top Russian officials have traveled to North Korea. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to begin a three-day trip to Pyongyang on Friday, while Putin's top security council aide, Sergei Shoigu, visited North Korea for the third time in as many months in June. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a resumption of weapons supplies to Ukraine, including vital air defenses, that were unexpectedly interrupted last week. He accused Putin of "killing too many people" and said the Russian leader's engagement with U.S. calls for a truce was "meaningless." Budanov said U.S. support for Ukraine will continue "in the near future" and Washington may send additional air-defense systems. Trump's "position is consistent, one should not judge him by media characteristics," Budanov said. "As head of a special service I know more things." While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to U.S. calls for an unconditional ceasefire, Putin told Trump in a phone call last week that Russia "will not back down" on its war aims, according to a Kremlin transcript. Budanov said a ceasefire must be reached as soon as possible and well before the end of this year. "Is it realistic to do so - yes. Is it difficult - no," he said. "It takes at least three sides - Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. And we will get to this position." Russia has stepped up air attacks on Ukraine including with record numbers of drones in recent weeks. It launched 728 drones on July 9, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure, while the United Nations reported that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 injured. "Civilians across Ukraine are facing levels of suffering we have not seen in over three years," Danielle Bell, the head of the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said Thursday. "The surge in long-range missile and drone strikes across the country has brought even more death and destruction." Russia's grinding battlefield assaults in Ukraine have also picked up speed again in the war, now in its fourth year. Kremlin forces entered Ukraine's northeast Sumy region bordering Russia last month in an attempt to create a buffer zone. They made marginal advances in the partly-occupied Donetsk region in the east and in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia. The Russian army is also attempting to cross into the central Dnipropetrovsk region next to Donetsk. "It's not realistic for Russia to seize all of the Donetsk region by the end of the year," Budanov said. Russian troops "have a political goal to declare that they entered" Dnipropetrovsk region and are tasked with setting up another buffer zone of as much as 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in depth, he said. Dressed in black military fatigues, 39-year-old Budanov has earned a reputation for planning bold operations to strike at Russian forces - and even participating in them personally. He joined Ukraine's military intelligence in 2007, fought in the country's east after Russia incited separatist conflict there in 2014 and took part in operations in occupied Crimea. Budanov was wounded three times in fighting. He has also been the target of Kremlin-backed poisoning attempts, according to Ukrainian intelligence officials, while his wife Marianna survived a poisoning in November that some officials blamed on Russia. The military intelligence chief has become one of the most popular public figures in Ukraine, ranked among the three most trusted officials, opinion polls show. A Rating Group poll from July 4-5 showed 56% of Ukrainians trust him, compared with 67% for Zelenskyy and 73% for former top military commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Budanov will mark five years as head of military intelligence next month, "if I survive," he said. Asked to explain, he said "anything can happen" and referred to a memorial at the agency to intelligence officers killed in the line of duty. There is much space for more names, he said. The black flag of Ukraine's military intelligence agency hangs from a pole in his office, which is also decorated with models of Russian ships sunk in operations masterminded by his agents. Budanov described intelligence cooperation with western counterparts as "excellent," adding that he expects exchanges of information to continue. Ukraine depends on the U.S. for the early warning of missile launches and access to satellite imagery, he said. "I don't see any signs our cooperation in the security services will stop," Budanov said. "This is not beneficial for us and not beneficial for our partners either, because they get information from us." Budanov even urged allies to return to relying on human intelligence - networks of spies - that he said "almost all European countries have buried, unfortunately." He added: "Stop believing that technical intelligence will solve everything. No one will discuss and plan an operation on a mobile phone." He said he hopes to remain in his post until the war ends. "Now, my dream is to stop this war," Budanov said. "Ukraine is a country of opportunities. In future, I'll decide what I would like to do." -------- -With assistance from Maxim Edwards. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Ukraine spy chief claims North Korea supplying 40% of Russia's ammunition for war
The head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, has claimed that North Korea is now supplying as much as 40 per cent of Russia's ammunition for the war in Ukraine. This deepening partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow involves the exchange of ballistic missiles and artillery systems from North Korea in return for money and technology from Russia. Bloomberg reported that military ties between Russia and North Korea have intensified since President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in June last year. The alliance has reportedly led to North Korea sending thousands of troops and millions of artillery rounds to assist Putin's army in pushing Ukrainian forces out of territory they'd seized in Russia's Kursk region. Kim has also vowed to back Russia 'unconditionally' in the war, the news agency reported. Amidst these developments, US President Donald Trump has ordered a resumption of weapons supplies to Ukraine, including vital air defences. He accused Putin of 'killing too many people' and said the Russian leader's engagement with the US calls for a truce was 'meaningless.' Budanov expressed confidence in continued US support and potential for additional air-defence systems. During talks of a ceasefire, Putin told Trump in a phone call last week that Russia 'will not back down' on its war aims. Budanov said a ceasefire must be reached as soon as possible and well before the end of this year, weighing the chances, 'Is it realistic to do so - yes. Is it difficult - no,' he said. He also emphasised that 'It takes at least three sides - Ukraine, Russia and the US. And we will get to this position.' Russia has already attacked Ukraine with record numbers of drones in recent weeks. It launched 728 drones on 9 July, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure. In view of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the United Nations noted that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 injured. 'Civilians across Ukraine are facing levels of suffering we have not seen in over three years,' Danielle Bell, the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said Thursday. 'The surge in long-range missile and drone strikes across the country has brought even more death and destruction.' However, Budanov remains hopeful; he has decided to remain in his post until the war ends. 'Now, my dream is to stop this war,' Bloomberg reported. Budanov said, 'Ukraine is a country of opportunities. In future, I'll decide what I would like to do.'
Korea Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
N. Korean leader flaunts Russia ties from battlefield to stage
Kim Jong-un's daughter attends NK–Russia concert in 2nd official diplomatic outing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un put Pyongyang's growing alignment with Moscow on full display — from the battlefield to cultural exchanges — by attending a concert, where scenes of North Korean troops fighting for Russia and the repatriated remains of fallen soldiers were shown on a large background screen. Kim and Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova watched the concert at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre in the capital Pyongyang on Sunday, featuring performances by visiting Russian artists and a return performance by North Korean performers, North Korean state media reported Monday. The concert was held to mark the first anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty on June 19, 2024, which includes a mutual defense commitment. State-run Korean Central Television aired footage of North Korean artists performing in front of a screen depicting the chronology of North Korea's troop deployments in support of Russia's war against Ukraine. The concert's backdrop included scenes of Kim Jong-un kneeling and touching a coffin draped in the North Korean flag, believed to contain the remains of a soldier killed in Russia's war against Ukraine. His sister, Kim Yo-jong, and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui were also shown receiving the repatriated remains of fallen North Korean soldiers from Russia. Pyongyang also revealed for the first time, through on-stage visuals, that Kim had approved operational plans for North Korean troops in the Kursk region and had ordered attacks to be carried out between Oct. 22 and Dec. 22, 2024. This marks the first time North Korean state media has shown footage and photos of its soldiers sent to Russia that are accessible to the North Korean public. Pyongyang officially confirmed its troop dispatches both domestically and internationally in late April, following around six months of silence. North Korean artists performed against a backdrop of images showing North Korean and Russian soldiers deployed on the battlefield and North Korean soldiers holding the flags of their country and Russia, according to photos released by the KCNA. North Korean media reports came as South Korea's spy agency said Thursday that additional troop deployments by North Korea could occur as early as July or August. During the concert, Kim Jong-un was also accompanied by his daughter — believed to be named Ju-ae — who sat next to her father. This marks Ju-ae's second official diplomatic activity, following her visit to the Russian Embassy in North Korea with her father on May 8 for Russia's Victory Day. Before the concert, Kim and Lyubimova held talks at the headquarters of the Party Central Committee in Pyongyang. 'Kim Jong-un expressed belief that the current visit would further raise the militant comradeship and feelings of friendship between the two countries,' said the state-run Korean Central News Agency in its English-language report on the significance of Lyubimova's visit to Pyongyang, which began Saturday. The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on Sunday also confirmed the visit of a large Russian delegation comprising 125 people, including artists. North Korean state media has highlighted the country's growing ties with Russia through extensive media coverage in recent weeks. The North Korean Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang co-hosted a reception on June 19, marking the one-year anniversary of a bilateral defense treaty. Kim also met with Russia's top security official, Sergei Shoigu — a close confidant of Putin — on June 4 and 17, marking two meetings in just two weeks in Pyongyang. In a vividly contrasting picture, Pyongyang has remained silent on US President Donald Trump's continued overtures to revive summit diplomacy with Kim. In an apparent sign that Pyongyang and Washington are not on the same page, North Korean state media continues to instill anti-US sentiment through its articles, while carefully avoiding direct criticism of Trump. In the Oval Office, when Trump was asked whether he had written a letter to Kim as reported by the media, he responded Friday, "If there is a conflict, I get along with him very, very well. And we'll get the conflict solved with North Korea.' North Korea's main newspaper carried a front-page article on Sunday emphasizing the importance of self-reliance in the face of sanctions imposed by 'hostile forces,' apparently referring to the US. The article underscored that the banner of self-reliance is by no means a temporary solution to overcome immediate difficulties, but something that "must always be firmly held as a strategic weapon." The Unification Ministry in Seoul said it viewed the article as part of North Korea's routine criticism of the US, but noted that it has been tempering its denunciations. 'In particular, since the launch of the Trump administration, we assess that North Korea has actually been moderating the tone of its criticism toward the US compared to before,' the ministry's spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam said.
Korea Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
N. Korea flaunts Russia ties from battlefield to stage, sidesteps Trump
Kim Jong-un's daughter attends NK–Russia concert in 2nd official diplomatic outing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un put Pyongyang's growing alignment with Moscow on full display — from the battlefield to cultural exchanges — by attending a joint concert that featured images of North Korean troops fighting for Russia, alongside his daughter and Russia's culture minister. Kim met with Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova at the headquarters of the Party Central Committee in Pyongyang on Sunday, marking the first anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty on June 19, 2024, North Korean state media reported Monday. 'Kim Jong-un expressed belief that the current visit would further raise the militant comradeship and feelings of friendship between the two countries,' the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on the significance of Lyubimova's visit to Pyongyang, which began Saturday, in its English-language report. 'Kim Jong-un stressed that all fields of state and social life are important but the exchange in the field of culture and art in particular plays a great role in strengthening the foundation of the public mindset of the two countries and firmly consolidating the ties of friendship, comradeship, mutual understanding and sympathy between the peoples,' KCNA added. The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on Sunday also confirmed the visit of a large Russian delegation comprising 125 people, including artists from the M.E. Pyatnitsky State Academic Russian Folk Choir and the Moscow State Academic Dance Theater Gzhel. Kim and Lyubimova then attended a concert at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre, featuring performances by visiting Russian artists and a return performance by North Korean performers. North Korean artists performed against a backdrop of images showing North Korean and Russian soldiers deployed on the battlefield against Ukraine and North Korean soldiers holding its national flag on the battlefield, according to photos released by the KCNA. South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam said in a televised briefing that the photos 'seem to be the first time that combat scenes have been made public to a level accessible to ordinary citizens.' However, Koo noted this is not something that deserves special significance, given that North Korea had already officially formalized its troop dispatches both domestically and internationally in late April. During the concert, Kim Jong-un was also accompanied by his daughter — believed to be named Ju-ae — who sat next to her father. The Unification Ministry assessed that this marks Ju-ae's second official diplomatic activity, following the first in her visit to the Russian Embassy in North Korea with her father on May 8 for Russia's Victory Day. North Korean state media has highlighted the country's growing ties with Russia through extensive media coverage in recent weeks. The North Korean Foreign Ministry and Russian Embassy in Pyongyang co-hosted a reception on June 19, a year to the day that Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty that includes a mutual defense commitment. Kim also met with Russia's top security official, Sergei Shoigu — a close confidant of Putin — on June 4 and 17, marking two meetings in just two weeks in Pyongyang. In a vividly contrasting picture, Pyongyang has remained silent on US President Donald Trump's continued overtures to revive summit diplomacy with Kim. In an apparent sign that Pyongyang and Washington are not on the same page, North Korean state media continues to instill anti-US sentiment through its articles, while carefully avoiding direct criticism of Trump. In the Oval Office, when Trump was asked whether he had written a letter to Kim as reported by media, he responded Friday, "If there is a conflict, I get along with him very, very well. And we'll get the conflict solved with North Korea.' "I've had a good relationship with Kim Jong-un, and I've gotten along with him really great. So we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters. North Korea's main newspaper carried a front-page article on Sunday emphasizing the importance of self-reliance in the face of sanctions imposed by 'hostile forces,' apparently referring to the US. "Party has never, even for a moment, lowered the banner of self-reliance — whether the hostile forces have gone mad with aggressive war maneuvers and tried to strangle our lifeline with the noose of sanctions," a Rodong Simun article read. The article underscored that the banner of self-reliance is by no means a temporary solution to overcome immediate difficulties, but something that "must always be firmly held as a strategic weapon." The Unification Ministry viewed the article as part of North Korea's routine criticism of the US, but noted that it has been tempering its denunciations. 'In particular, since the launch of the Trump administration, we assess that North Korea has actually been moderating the tone of its criticism toward the US compared to before,' Koo said.
