Putin thanks North Korea for backing Russia's war on Ukraine - Details from his letter to Kim Jong Un

In a letter marking the anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese rule, Putin recalled how “Soviet Red Army units and North Korean forces fought together to end Japan’s colonial occupation.”

“The bonds of militant friendship, goodwill and mutual aid which were consolidated in the days of the war long ago remain solid and reliable even today,” Putin said.

He called the actions of North Korean troops sent to participate in hostilities in Ukraine “heroic.”

“This was fully proved by the heroic participation of the DPRK soldiers in liberating the territory of Kursk region from the Ukrainian occupationists,” he said.

North Korea helps Russia

Russian troops launched a counteroffensive to eliminate the last Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukraine had entrenched last year.

Against this backdrop, Putin even visited this isolated state, and the countries signed a mutual defense pact.

In April this year, North Korea confirmed that it had deployed a contingent of its soldiers to the front lines in Ukraine alongside Russian troops. South Korean and Western intelligence services said that in 2024, Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 soldiers to the Kursk region of Russia, as well as artillery shells, missiles, and long-range missile systems.

Yesterday, August 14, the head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, warned that North Korea plans to transfer additional troops to Russia shortly.

According to him, this includes about 6,000 military personnel and 50 to 100 pieces of equipment, including main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers.

South Korean intelligence also previously reported that North Korea was preparing a new batch of soldiers to send to Russia.