**North Korea Reiterates Support for Russia’s War Efforts**
In a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, Pyongyang reaffirmed its full support for Moscow’s war against Ukraine. This move comes as tensions in the region continue to escalate.
According to reports from North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, Kim told Shoigu that his country “unconditionally supports the stand of Russia and its foreign policies.” He also emphasized Pyongyang’s commitment to their 2024 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which promises mutual assistance if either country is attacked. This agreement was previously hailed by Kim as a formal security guarantee between the two nations.
**Russian Troops Receive North Korean Support**
Shoigu, on his second visit to Pyongyang since being appointed secretary of the Russian Security Council, reportedly discussed battlefield developments in Russia’s Kursk Oblast with Kim. It is estimated that up to 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to this region to counter Ukraine’s cross-border incursion launched last fall. These soldiers are fighting alongside Russian forces and have suffered significant losses.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, North Korean forces fighting for Russia had suffered over 4,000 casualties, with two-thirds of these losses being soldiers killed in action.
**The International Community Reacts**
Shoigu’s visit comes as the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him on June 25, 2024, due to his role in leading Russia’s war effort. This move has further strained relations between Russia and the international community.
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