Beijing: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have engaged in discussions regarding "long-term" cooperation plans between their nations during talks in Beijing. This meeting occurred on the sidelines of China's military parade, as reported by state media on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the summit took place shortly after Kim and Putin attended China's large-scale military parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the discussions, the leaders explored detailed plans for enhancing bilateral relations and expressed a strong commitment to elevate their partnership to a higher level, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Putin emphasized the "special" nature of the ties between Russia and North Korea, describing them as based on trust, friendship, and alliance. He also vowed that Russia would "always remember" the sacrifices made by North Korean troops deployed in support of Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine. In response, Kim pledged North Korea's full support for Russia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, highlighting it as a "fraternal duty" to assist Moscow.
The two leaders engaged in an "open-minded exchange" on important international and regional issues, though specific details were not provided by KCNA. Russian media indicated that Putin extended an invitation for Kim to visit Russia again, although this was not confirmed by North Korean state media.
The Kim-Putin talks have sparked interest in the depth of military cooperation between the nations, especially as speculation grows that Russia's conflict with Ukraine may be nearing resolution. During the meeting, Putin acknowledged the participation of North Korean troops in the liberation of the front-line Kursk region, attributing it to Kim's "personal initiative," as reported by Russia's Tass news agency.
Since last October, approximately 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russia's war efforts, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service. The agency recently noted that an additional 6,000 soldiers are expected to be sent in a third deployment, with around 1,000 combat engineers already in Russia. The agency also estimated that about 2,000 North Korean troops have been killed in the conflict so far.
Kim's presence alongside Xi and Putin during China's celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II was his debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage. The trio's appearance at Tiananmen Square symbolized a united front of North Korea, Russia, and China against the United States.