Putin praises North Korean troops as “heroic” for their role in Kursk region, signaling deepening military ties with DPRK amid geopolitical turmoil
Putin praises North Korean troops—a phrase now resonating deeply across international circles—as Moscow elevates its wartime messaging with Pyongyang.
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In a symbolic letter marking Korea’s liberation anniversary, revealed by North Korean state media, President Vladimir Putin commended DPRK soldiers for their “heroic participation” in securing Russia’s Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.
He underscored the deep-rooted “bonds of militant friendship” formed during World War II—a tie he says remains “solid and reliable” today.
This praise comes alongside a historic mutual-defense pact signed in 2024.
North Korea officially confirmed earlier this year that it had deployed more than 10,000 troops to support Russian operations in Ukraine.
Western intelligence suggests that these deployments include personnel, artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems.
South Korea estimates approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have died in the conflict, with thousands more injured.
Meanwhile, Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin delivered Putin’s letter in person during a visit to Pyongyang, where he also expressed appreciation for the “excellent soldiers” dispatched to the Kursk region.
Putin’s statement went further, vowing that Russia will “act jointly and effectively” with North Korea to “defend sovereignty and contribute to a just, multipolar world order”.
This development is not only shaping the battlefield but also redefining geopolitical alignments.
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Earlier, Putin had reiterated these views during a recent call with Kim Jong Un, reaffirming their alliance and shared pledges amid escalating global tensions.
