Item 1 of 4 North Korean chief Kim Jong Un and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov attend a gathering in Pyongyang, North Korea, on this image launched on November 30, 2024. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout through REUTERS
Kim met Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov on Friday and mentioned “the U.S. and the West made Kyiv authorities assault Russia’s territory with their very own long-range strike weapons” and Russia ought to take motion to make “hostile forces pay the worth,” KCNA information company mentioned.
“The DPRK authorities, military and folks will invariably assist the coverage of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists’ strikes for hegemony,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
DPRK is brief for North Korea’s official title, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Kim pledged to broaden ties with Russia in all areas together with navy affairs below the excellent strategic partnership he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, which features a mutual defence settlement, KCNA mentioned.
Moscow and Pyongyang have dramatically superior ties since their leaders held a summit in September final 12 months in Russia, and the North has since shipped greater than 10,000 containers of ammunition, in addition to self-propelled howitzers and a number of rocket launchers, in keeping with South Korea’s spy company.
KCNA made no point out of whether or not Kim and Belousov mentioned North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia.
South Korea’s spy company has mentioned North Korea has despatched greater than 10,000 troops to Russia they usually have been moved to frontlines, together with the Kursk area the place Russian forces are attempting to expel Ukrainian forces.
Russia in flip unleashed assaults in opposition to Ukraine’s navy and power infrastructures, saying it was in response to using U.S. medium-range missiles.
Belousov individually held talks with North Korea’s Defence Minister No Kwang Chol and mentioned the partnership pact signed by Kim and Putin will contribute to sustaining stability of energy in Northeast Asia.
Kim personally attended a reception hosted by the defence ministry for Belousov’s delegation, KCNA mentioned.
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Reporting by Jack Kim; modifying by Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
