Fighting ‘Sacred’ War in Ukraine, North Korea and Russia Pledge to Deepen Ties
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inaugurated a memorial in Pyongyang honoring North Korean troops killed while fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war, calling it a "new history of friendship with Russia written in blood."
- The ceremony was attended by a high-level Russian delegation, including Defense Minister Andrei R. Belousov and Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, highlighting strengthened ties between the two countries.
- Russia pledged to sign a five-year bilateral military cooperation plan with North Korea following the memorial's opening.
- North Korea has provided substantial support to Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including large shipments of artillery and missiles, as well as deploying thousands of troops.
- South Korean intelligence estimates that hundreds of North Korean soldiers have died in the conflict.
