Russia recognizes DPRK troops' participation in war against Ukraine for the first time
Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov (Photo: Getty Images)
For the first time, Russia publicly recognized the participation of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine. Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov states that they are fighting against the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Kursk region, according to Russian media.
During a report to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on the alleged completion of the operation in the Kursk region, Gerasimov praised the DPRK troops. He said that North Korean forces "acting side by side with the Russian military in the Kursk region, showed resilience and heroism."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that "Russia will never forget its friends from the DPRK."
Russia invented a victory in the Kursk region
Gerasimov, during his report to Putin, said that Russian troops had allegedly pushed Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region.
The Chief of the Russian General Staff assured Putin that the Russian army had liberated the last settlement in the Kursk region, the village of Hornal. Gerasimov also said that the Russian military was allegedly creating a "security zone" in the Sumy region.
However, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the fighting in the Kursk region continues. Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defenders stopped 30 invaders' assault operations in the Kursk region.
North Korea's participation in the war against Ukraine
Last fall, North Korea sent troops to Russia. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the DPRK sent about 12,000 of its military personnel.
Russia engaged North Korean forces in fighting in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian military reported that North Korean troops were suffering losses, which led to their short-term withdrawal from the front line.
North Korea also provides Russia with ammunition, ballistic missiles, and weapons systems, including artillery.
Recently, the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense reported that Russia could involve DPRK troops in the fighting in Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
