North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing during China’s military parade, and they talked about building stronger ties between their countries. This meeting took place just hours after Kim and Putin watched China’s big military show alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During their discussion, Kim and Putin focused on their long-term partnership. They expressed their strong commitment to boosting relations and working closer together in the future. Both leaders called their countries’ friendship “special,” based on trust and mutual support.
Putin praised North Korea’s role, saying Russia will never forget the sacrifices made by North Korean soldiers fighting in the Ukraine conflict. Kim responded by promising full support to Russia’s efforts to protect its territory and sovereignty, calling it a “fraternal duty” to help Moscow.
The leaders also talked about world and regional issues, but specific details weren’t shared. Reports from Russia mentioned that Putin invited Kim to visit Russia again, though North Korean media didn’t confirm this.
This meeting has drawn attention because it highlights the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Many believe this partnership could deepen, especially with the ongoing war in Ukraine possibly nearing its end.
At the start of the talks, Putin praised North Korea for its soldiers’ role in Ukraine, including their participation in fighting near Kursk. South Korea’s intelligence agencies say around 15,000 North Korean troops have helped Russia since October last year. They also expect around 6,000 more soldiers to be sent, with about 1,000 already arrived in Russia as combat engineers. Unfortunately, around 2,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have lost their lives in the war.
Kim Jong-un made a significant appearance on the global stage by standing with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at China’s 80th anniversary celebration of victory in World War II. This joint appearance at Tiananmen Square sent a message of unity among China, Russia, and North Korea — especially as a show of strength against the United States.
This high-profile meeting signals closer military and diplomatic ties between North Korea and Russia, raising important questions about future international relations.
