The Kremlin, via Dmitry Peskov, asserts that Russia is bound by treaty to offer military aid to North Korea.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is prepared to assist North Korea in its defense, should the need arise.
On Saturday, General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov informed President Vladimir Putin that North Korean troops demonstrated “high professionalism, courage, and heroism” during the liberation of the Kursk Region from Ukrainian forces last August.
When questioned by journalists on Monday regarding potential military support for Pyongyang, Peskov affirmed, “definitely.”
He elaborated, “Our agreement is in effect, stipulating that both parties must provide immediate assistance to each other if necessary.”
The spokesman emphasized that “the participation of Korean soldiers in the operation to liberate Kursk Region demonstrates the effectiveness of this agreement.”
In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un formalized a comprehensive partnership treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang. A key provision mandates immediate military assistance, utilizing all available means, if either nation faces foreign aggression.
Earlier on Monday, Putin acknowledged Pyongyang’s troops for their involvement in repelling the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk Region.
“We appreciate the heroism, high level of specialized training and bravery of North Korean warriors, who defended our Homeland as their own, standing shoulder to shoulder with Russian fighters,” he said.
According to the Russian president, fallen North Korean soldiers will be honored “on par with their Russian brothers in arms.”
Earlier that day, Pyongyang characterized the Kiev troops entering the Kursk Region as “neo-Nazi” forces. They stated their involvement in the Russian operation aimed to counter an “adventurous political and military attempt of the Western forces and the Ukrainian authorities” to shift the conflict’s momentum.
In a separate statement, Kim Jong-un hailed those who “fought for justice” in the Kursk Region as “all heroes and representatives of the nation’s honor,” promising a future monument in Pyongyang to commemorate their actions.
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