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Al Jazeera
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
‘North Korea is now a more important ally for Russia than Iran or China'
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wept as he threw himself over the coffin of a soldier draped in the national flag, one of six or so who were lined up in a row. Photographs of him mourning were shown at a gala performance at a theatre in Pyongyang late last month, celebrating the anniversary of a mutual defence pact signed by Kim and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The soldiers had been killed in action fighting alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine. While Ukraine's NATO backers have refused to deploy boots on the ground, North Korean fighters have participated in fierce battles over the region of Kursk in western Russia, partly occupied by a Ukrainian counteroffensive. 'North Korea is now a more important ally for Russia than Iran or China,' said Oleg Ignatov, senior Russia analyst for Crisis Group. 'North Korea supplies Russia with ammunition and some types of heavy weapons. As for the North Korean soldiers, Russian sources say they are professional and disciplined. At the beginning of the Kursk operation, they lacked the modern combat skills required for this type of war, which involves the use of large numbers of drones, but they quickly adapted.' Looking ahead, there are signs that the Russian-North Korean alliance is advancing. Two weeks ago, Ukrainian intelligence sources told CNN that North Korea was planning to triple its deployment along the front lines with Ukraine by dispatching up to 30,000 more soldiers. Russia welcomes the additional manpower as, according to a count kept by the Russian independent outlet Mediazona and the BBC, Moscow's army has suffered more than 116,000 losses since launching a full-scale war on its neighbour in 2022. Some observers say North Korea, a famously isolated nation, also has plenty to gain. 'From a military operations point of view, North Korea now has had on-the-ground exposure to modern warfare, which South Korea does not,' said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior fellow with the Stimson Center's 38 North and POSCO fellow with the East-West Center. 'From a policy point of view, North Korea's improved ties with Russia give Kim Jong Un greater strategic manoeuvrability, due to immediate benefits like Russia's oil and wheat shipments and possible transfers of military technology to North Korea – to the longer-term opportunities that Kim Jong Un appears to see by nurturing this relationship.' She added that this all gives North Korea 'little to no incentive to engage the United States, much less South Korea'. 'North Korea's relationship with Russia gives Kim stronger leverage vis-a-vis China, which could have broader regional implications in the longer term,' she said. Russia has reopened long-dormant supply chains to the North, ignoring international sanctions. 'The countries have resumed traffic along the Khasan-Tumen line,' Neimat Khalilov, a political scientist and member of the Digoria expert club, told Al Jazeera, referring to the Russian border with North Korea. 'Russia supplies coal, fertilisers and iron ore via railway crossings, while [North Korea] supplies seafood and rare earth metals … Separately, it is worth noting the modernisation of the [North Korean] port of Rajin, which is taking place with the participation of the Russian Federation. The goal of the project is to make the port an alternative to South Korean hubs, thereby increasing cargo flow through Vladivostok to North Korea.' 'A qualitatively new phase' The modern state of North Korea owes its existence to the Soviet Union, which routed Japanese colonial troops occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula at the end of World War II, while US forces did the same in the south. A Soviet and Chinese-backed Communist state was established, and the USSR remained a close ally throughout the Cold War. But after the USSR collapsed in the early 1990s, North Korea lost its crucial backer and a vital source of aid, plunging the country into a catastrophic famine. Relations with the new Russia were not hostile, but not particularly close. In the 2000s and 2010s, Russia even joined the global sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear programme and alleged human rights abuses. However, Khalilov said, 'With the start of the SMO [the war in Ukraine, which is known as a 'special military operation' in Russia], they entered a qualitatively new phase.' Pyongyang made its position clear from the beginning of the war in early 2022, as one of only five governments to vote against condemning Moscow's invasion at an emergency session of the UN. The others were Belarus, Eritrea, Syria and Russia itself. 'In 2023, former Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited the DPRK, and a few months later, as part of the North Korea-Russia summit, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un made an official visit to Russia, where he held talks with Vladimir Putin,' said Khalilov. 'Particular attention is drawn to the change in rhetoric: joint statements increasingly include formulations about 'common values' and 'strategic partnership'.' Khalilov noted that the deployment of about 15,000 North Korean forces on the Kursk battlefield was provided for by Article 4 of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed by Putin and Kim last June. This allowed one country to provide 'military and other assistance' to the other in case of foreign invasion. The Kremlin initially denied claims made late last year by Ukraine and South Korean intelligence that North Koreans were fighting alongside Russian troops. The Russian command appeared to have undertaken some effort to hide it. In December, The Guardian reported that North Korean soldiers wounded in Kursk were being treated in secret at Russian hospitals, while the soldiers were issued fake IDs identifying them as ethnic minorities from Russia's Far East, should they die on the battlefield. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that North Korean soldiers risked being executed by their own side if capture was imminent. It was only in April that Russia and the North officially confirmed that their troops were fighting side-by-side, with Putin thanking 'our Korean friends' for acting out of 'solidarity, a sense of justice, and true comradeship' during the battle for Kursk. At the same time, Kim praised his soldiers on their 'sacred mission.' Russian officials have since promised North Korea that soldiers killed would be honoured in Kursk by erecting monuments and renaming streets after them. Political scientist Fyodor Krasheninnikov has suggested the initial secrecy was sustained at North Korea's request. 'They have their own internal logic – their own propaganda, their own ideology,' he told the exiled Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. 'They needed to fit this into their domestic messaging. I think they asked the Russians not to bring it up. And once they figured out how to spin it at home, they decided the time had come to say, 'Yes, that was us.''
News24
01-07-2025
- Politics
- News24
Emotional North Korea leader Kim Jong Un mourns fallen troops who fought for Russia
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un was seen with the flag-draped coffins of soldiers. Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed fighting for Russia. Kim appeared emotional mourning the fallen soldiers. State media images showed leader Kim Jong Un honouring the flag-draped coffins of North Korean soldiers killed helping Russia fight Ukraine, as Seoul's defence ministry said on Tuesday it saw no signs of further troop deployments yet. The nuclear-armed North has become one of Russia's main allies during its more than three-year-long Ukraine offensive, sending thousands of troops and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin oust Ukrainian forces from Kursk. Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting for Russia, according to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, citing information from Seoul's spy agency. The images of a visibly emotional Kim mourning the fallen soldiers were broadcast by the official Korean Central Television, released as part of an event in Pyongyang on Sunday attended by Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova. It marked the one-year anniversary of a military pact signed by the two countries, which includes a mutual defence clause. READ | Kim Jong Un slams failed North Korea warship launch as 'criminal act' Kim was shown placing a North Korean flag over a coffin during a ceremony for the return of the remains of North Korean soldiers who were deployed and killed in Moscow's war against Kyiv. The footage also showed images of North Korean soldiers in the battlefield, accompanied by captions that said: 'Oh, our heroes, shining stars of my homeland' and 'those who gave their lives without hesitation to defend honour shine like radiant stars'. North Korean and Russian attendees were shown bursting into tears as they watched the tribute. A photograph of a document, purportedly penned by Kim, was also featured, with a caption saying he had 'approved operational plans for the liberation of Kursk and issued attack orders to special operations units' in the final months of 2024. The North Korean leader attended the performance with his teenage daughter Ju Ae - widely seen by many analysts as his likely successor. North Korea only confirmed it had deployed troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine in April, and admitted that its soldiers had been killed in combat. South Korean lawmaker Lee said last week that the North will send more troops to Russia to assist in its war against Ukraine, possibly as early as this month, citing Seoul's spy agency. But Seoul's defence ministry said on Tuesday it currently sees 'no signs' that North Korea is preparing to deploy troops to Russia, noting that the country is in its summer training period, with some frontline units also participating in mid-year drills.
CNA
01-07-2025
- Politics
- CNA
North Korea's Kim shown honouring troops killed in Russia-Ukraine war
SEOUL: State media images showed leader Kim Jong Un honouring the flag-draped coffins of North Korean soldiers killed helping Russia fight Ukraine, as Seoul's defence ministry said Tuesday (Jul 1) it saw no signs of further troop deployments yet. The nuclear-armed North has become one of Russia's main allies during its more than three-year-long Ukraine offensive, sending thousands of troops and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin oust Ukrainian forces from Kursk. Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting for Russia, according to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, citing information from Seoul's spy agency. The images of a visibly emotional Kim mourning the fallen soldiers were broadcast by the official Korean Central Television, released as part of an event in Pyongyang on Sunday attended by Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova. It marked the one-year anniversary of a military pact signed by the two countries, which includes a mutual defence clause. Kim was shown placing a North Korean flag over a coffin during a ceremony for the return of the remains of North Korean soldiers who were deployed and killed in Moscow's war against Kyiv. The footage also showed images of North Korean soldiers in the battlefield, accompanied by captions that said: "Oh, our heroes, shining stars of my homeland" and "those who gave their lives without hesitation to defend honour shine like radiant stars." North Korean and Russian attendees were shown bursting into tears as they watched the tribute. A photograph of a document, purportedly penned by Kim, was also featured, with a caption saying he had "approved operational plans for the liberation of Kursk and issued attack orders to special operations units" in the final months of 2024. The North Korean leader attended the performance with his teenage daughter Ju Ae - widely seen by many analysts as his likely successor. North Korea only confirmed it had deployed troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine in April, and admitted that its soldiers had been killed in combat. South Korean lawmaker Lee said last week that the North will send more troops to Russia to assist in its war against Ukraine, possibly as early as this month, citing Seoul's spy agency. But Seoul's defence ministry said Tuesday it currently sees "no signs" that North Korea is preparing to deploy troops to Russia, noting that the country is in its summer training period, with some frontline units also participating in mid-year drills.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Korea's Kim shown honouring troops killed in Russia-Ukraine war
State media images showed leader Kim Jong Un honouring the flag-draped coffins of North Korean soldiers killed helping Russia fight Ukraine, as Seoul's defence ministry said Tuesday it saw no signs of further troop deployments yet. The nuclear-armed North has become one of Russia's main allies during its more than three-year-long Ukraine offensive, sending thousands of troops and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin oust Ukrainian forces from Kursk. Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting for Russia, according to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, citing information from Seoul's spy agency. The images of a visibly emotional Kim mourning the fallen soldiers were broadcast by the official Korean Central Television, released as part of an event in Pyongyang on Sunday attended by Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova. It marked the one-year anniversary of a military pact signed by the two countries, which includes a mutual defence clause. Kim was shown placing a North Korean flag over a coffin during a ceremony for the return of the remains of North Korean soldiers who were deployed and killed in Moscow's war against Kyiv. The footage also showed images of North Korean soldiers in the battlefield, accompanied by captions that said: "Oh, our heroes, shining stars of my homeland" and "those who gave their lives without hesitation to defend honour shine like radiant stars." North Korean and Russian attendees were shown bursting into tears as they watched the tribute. A photograph of a document, purportedly penned by Kim, was also featured, with a caption saying he had "approved operational plans for the liberation of Kursk and issued attack orders to special operations units" in the final months of 2024. The North Korean leader attended the performance with his teenage daughter Ju Ae -- widely seen by many analysts as his likely successor. North Korea only confirmed it had deployed troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine in April, and admitted that its soldiers had been killed in combat. South Korean lawmaker Lee said last week that the North will send more troops to Russia to assist in its war against Ukraine, possibly as early as this month, citing Seoul's spy agency. But Seoul's defence ministry said Tuesday it currently sees "no signs" that North Korea is preparing to deploy troops to Russia, noting that the country is in its summer training period, with some frontline units also participating in mid-year drills. cdl/ceb/dhc
Japan Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
North Korea's Kim shown honoring troops killed in Russia-Ukraine war
State media images showed leader Kim Jong Un honoring the flag-draped coffins of North Korean soldiers killed helping Russia fight Ukraine, as Seoul's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it saw no signs of further troop deployments yet. The nuclear-armed North has become one of Russia's main allies during its more than three-year-long Ukraine offensive, sending thousands of troops and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin oust Ukrainian forces from Kursk. Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting for Russia, according to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, citing information from Seoul's spy agency. The images of a visibly emotional Kim mourning the fallen soldiers were broadcast by the official Korean Central Television, released as part of an event in Pyongyang on Sunday attended by Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova. It marked the one-year anniversary of a military pact signed by the two countries, which includes a mutual defense clause. Kim was shown placing a North Korean flag over a coffin during a ceremony for the return of the remains of North Korean soldiers who were deployed and killed in Moscow's war against Kyiv. The footage also showed images of North Korean soldiers in the battlefield, accompanied by captions that said: "Oh, our heroes, shining stars of my homeland" and "those who gave their lives without hesitation to defend honor shine like radiant stars." North Korean and Russian attendees were shown bursting into tears as they watched the tribute. A photograph of a document, purportedly penned by Kim, was also featured, with a caption saying he had "approved operational plans for the liberation of Kursk and issued attack orders to special operations units" in the final months of 2024. The North Korean leader attended the performance with his teenage daughter, Ju Ae — widely seen by many analysts as his likely successor. North Korea only confirmed it had deployed troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine in April, and admitted that its soldiers had been killed in combat. South Korean lawmaker Lee said last week that the North will send more troops to Russia to assist in its war against Ukraine, possibly as early as this month, citing Seoul's spy agency. But Seoul's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it currently sees "no signs" that North Korea is preparing to deploy troops to Russia, noting that the country is in its summer training period, with some front-line units also participating in midyear drills.
