North Korean leader makes cynical remark on war in Ukraine, vows to develop nuclear forces
Photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (Getty Images)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed support for Russia, which continues its large-scale military aggression against Ukraine. Pyongyang's assistance to Moscow is due, in particular, to the strategic partnership between the countries, according to Yonhap News Agency and Reuters.
Kim Jong Un's statements on Russia's war against Ukraine
Speaking about the Russian-Ukrainian war, Kim Jong Un said that North Korea is going to continue to support Russia, and such assistance is “invariably.”
North Korean dictator did not mention Russia's attack on Ukraine and the Kremlin's aggressive actions, but only said that the Russian side was allegedly “defending sovereignty” and “territorial integrity.”
“The army and people of the DPRK will invariably support and encourage the just cause of the Russian army and people to defend their sovereignty, security and territorial integrity in keeping with the spirit of the treaty on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the DPRK and Russia,” Kim Jong Un said.
DPRK leader wants to further develop nuclear forces
He also criticized the trilateral military cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea. According to the DPRK leader, this allegedly increases tensions and leads to a military imbalance in the region.
He promised to take countermeasures, including further development of the country's nuclear forces, the state-run North Korean news agency KCNA reported on Sunday.
“The DPRK does not want unnecessary tension of the regional situation but will take sustained countermeasures to ensure the regional military balance,” Kim Jong Un said during a visit to the Defense Ministry on Saturday.
He also “clarified once again the unshakable policy of more highly developing the nuclear forces,” according to North Korean media reports.
DPRK's assistance to Moscow and participation in Russia's war against Ukraine
At the end of November last year, Kim Jong Un said that Russia has the right to “self-defense” in response to strikes deep into the country. He also promised to expand ties with Russia in all fields, including the military, as part of the comprehensive strategic partnership that the DPRK leader signed with Russian president Vladimir Putin in June.
North Korea sent its military contingent to Russia last fall to participate in the war against Ukraine. According to intelligence reports from different countries, it is about 10-12 thousand DPRK soldiers.
The North Korean military is taking part in hostilities in the Kursk region against the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The DPRK contingent is suffering significant losses in the fighting.
As reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on February 6, North Korea sent 12,000 troops to the Kursk region, and the losses of DPRK troops amounted to 4,000 people. Of the three notional brigades of North Korea, one was destroyed, and two lost their combat capability.
Against the backdrop of heavy losses among DPRK soldiers in the Kursk region, there have been reports that the North Korean contingent is no longer involved in hostilities.
Recently, however, the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, denied that DPRK troops had withdrawn from the front line in the Kursk region. According to him, about 8,000 North Korean troops are still fighting on the front line there, but recently in reduced numbers.
On February 7, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian army had again brought North Korean soldiers to the Kursk region.
Also, on January 24, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the DPRK was probably preparing to send new troops to Russia.
