BEIJING, Sept 3: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed their commitment to bolster cooperation amid the creation of a new “special and allied” relationship during their meeting in Beijing.
The talks took place on the sidelines of China’s 80th anniversary Victory Day military parade, an event that saw the three countries leaders appear together in public for the first time.
Speaking to his North Korean counterpart, the Russian head of state expressed his delight in meeting Kim, while the two leaders held discussions on several bilateral topics.
Commenting on the evolving ties between Russia and the DPRK, Putin said that Moscow-Pyongyang relations are developing in a special way, stating “Recently, relations between our countries have assumed a special trusting and friendly character, an allied character.”
He went on to commend North Korean soldiers, claiming they had fought “bravely and heroically” alongside Russian forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region. Putin’s remarks publicly acknowledged North Korean military involvement in the conflict, which South Korean intelligence estimates has seen around 15,000 North Korean troops sent to Russia since last year.
In response, Chairman Kim Jong Un reportedly pledged his full support for Russia, characterising it as a “fraternal duty.”
He stated that if there was anything he could do for Russia and its people, he would “be prepared to do everything possible to help.” The meeting, which observers noted was a significant step for Kim in breaking out of diplomatic isolation, followed a 2024 mutual defence treaty signed between the two countries.
(UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
