Russia publicly praised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after Pyongyang sent troops to support Moscow’s war effort, with senior officials using a high-profile visit to deepen ties between the two nations.

The comments came during a trip to North Korea by Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, who attended the unveiling of a memorial honoring those killed while backing Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

Russia Thanks Kim Jong Un For Kursk Support

Volodin used the visit to personally thank Kim for North Korea’s role in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces had launched a prolonged counter-offensive.

“[Let me express these] words of gratitude to you, esteemed Comrade Kim Jong Un, and to the Korean people for their fraternal support in the liberation of Kursk,” Volodin said.

He then praised the role of North Korean fighters in the battlefield campaign.

“Korean soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers and officers, liberating Russian soil from the Ukrainian Nazis,” he said.

A short video circulating online appeared to show Volodin embracing Kim before beginning formal remarks.

So far, North Korea has not publicly commented on the meeting.

Thousands Of Troops Sent To Russia

Pyongyang has dispatched thousands of troops to Russia, alongside missiles and ammunition, according to previous reports. Those forces were sent to Russia’s southwestern Kursk region to help repel Ukrainian advances.

The deployment marks one of the clearest examples yet of North Korea directly aiding Russia’s military campaign.

Meanwhile, analysts believe North Korea has been rewarded with financial assistance, military technology, food supplies and energy support. Such cooperation could also help Pyongyang ease the pressure of international sanctions tied to its nuclear weapons program.

Defense Chiefs Push Long-Term Military Alliance

Russia’s Defense Minister Andrey Belousov also arrived in Pyongyang and held talks with Kim Jong Un and North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol.

“We agreed with the DPRK Defense Ministry to place our military cooperation on a stable, long-term footing,” Belousov said Sunday.

He also signaled plans for a formal roadmap extending years into the future.

“We are ready to sign a plan this year for Russian–Korean military cooperation for the period of 2027–2031,” he added.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Belousov handed military awards to North Korean personnel involved in the Kursk campaign.

Growing Pact Between Moscow And Pyongyang

The visit follows a military treaty signed by both countries in 2024. Under that agreement, each side is obligated to provide military assistance “without delay” if the other comes under attack.

That pact has raised alarm among Western governments and regional powers, particularly as the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang appears to be accelerating.

Heavy Casualties And Captured Soldiers

South Korea estimates around 2,000 North Korean troops have been killed while fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Reports have also claimed North Korean soldiers were ordered to take their own lives rather than be captured alive.

Only two North Korean troops have reportedly been captured by Ukrainian forces. Both are currently in Ukrainian custody.

The two soldiers have expressed interest in relocating to South Korea.