Kim Jong Un pledges North Korea to 'unconditionally support' Russia in war against Ukraine
Photo: Kim Jong Un and Shoigu (rodong.rep.kp)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his pledge to unconditionally support his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reports.
During a meeting in Pyongyang with the Secretary of Russia's Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, Kim stated that North Korea will "unconditionally support" Russia and "its foreign policies in all the crucial international political issues."
As noted by Bloomberg, Shoigu's visit came at a time when South Korea's new President, Lee Jae-myung, a liberal from the Democratic Party, was sworn in after months of political instability. Lee, who campaigned on restoring dialogue with Pyongyang, pledged in his inaugural speech to stabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula as quickly as possible to reduce geopolitical risk.
It remains unclear whether Kim will respond to Lee's initiative. The North Korean President is drawing increasingly closer to Moscow, sending troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. His forces are gaining combat experience on modern battlefields.
Kim is also severing ties with South Korea, abandoning the idea of peaceful reunification. Last year, North Korea demolished parts of its own infrastructure that once connected the North and South, underscoring the deepening divide.
Moscow’s support for North Korea
Moscow is helping Pyongyang circumvent UN sanctions and is supplying military equipment. A joint report by 11 countries, including the US and Japan, cites "advanced electronic warfare systems, including jamming equipment delivered via Russian cargo planes."
Shoigu's visit marks his second trip to North Korea in less than three months, following a visit in March.
