Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un convened Wednesday after participating in a Chinese military parade commemorating the end of World War II.
Putin and Kim conducted their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, having previously spent time with other global leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the parade event.
The two leaders traveled to their bilateral discussions together in a single car after departing a formal reception, as reported by the Kremlin via social media, according to The Associated Press.
Putin began the meeting by commending North Korean soldiers for their “bravery and heroism” while fighting alongside Russian forces, according to the AP. The report specified that North Koreans were assisting in deterring Ukraine from attacking Russia’s Kursk border region.
South Korea estimates that 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia since last year.
Beyond manpower, North Korea has also furnished Moscow with ballistic missiles and artillery, among other military equipment.
Kim stated that his country’s cooperation with Russia has “significantly strengthened” since last June, when both leaders signed a strategic partnership.
Kim did not explicitly raise the topic, per the AP, but assured Putin he would do “everything possible to help” the people of Russia in whatever way was required.
“If there’s anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help,” Kim declared, as reported by the AP.
This bilateral meeting marks Kim’s first visit to Beijing since 2019, as he endeavors to bolster ties with both China and Russia.
Kim was accompanied on the trip by his senior party and government officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, KCNA added.
The visit occurs a couple of weeks after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held discussions in Washington, D.C., where he emphasized trilateral cooperation to counter North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile programs.