Kim Jong Un Vows ‘Unconditional Support’ for Russia’s War in Ukraine During Lavrov Visit

In a bold reaffirmation of its alliance with Moscow, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared that Pyongyang is ready to “unconditionally support” all actions taken by Russia in its ongoing war in Ukraine. The statement came during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s three-day official visit to North Korea, which included high-level talks aimed at deepening military and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Kim made the remarks in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, where he met Lavrov amid the second strategic dialogue between their respective foreign ministries. These talks further solidified the partnership treaty signed in 2023, which includes a mutual defense pact—a clause binding each country to provide military aid if the other comes under attack.

According to North Korea’s state-run KCNA, Kim stated that the steps taken by Pyongyang and Moscow in response to the shifting global geopolitical landscape would "contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world." He emphasized that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)—North Korea’s official name—shares identical views with Russia on all major strategic issues.

“Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the DPRK is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis,” KCNA reported.

He also expressed “firm belief that the Russian army and people would surely win victory in accomplishing the sacred cause of defending the dignity and basic interests of the country.”

Lavrov, in response, hailed the Russia–North Korea alliance as an "invincible fighting brotherhood" and expressed gratitude for Pyongyang's military contributions, including troop deployments and arms shipments. He also held earlier discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, with both sides issuing a joint statement to safeguard each other’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Russian media has reported that North Korea has already deployed over 10,000 troops, along with military supplies, to support Moscow's war campaign since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Additionally, North Korea has pledged to send 6,000 military engineers and builders to aid in reconstruction efforts in Russia’s Kursk region, underscoring the deepening economic and military interdependence between the two pariah states.

The strategic talks and increasing military cooperation are part of a broader geopolitical realignment, as both nations face mounting isolation and sanctions from the West. As Lavrov and Kim embraced during their meeting—a moment captured and shared by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Telegram—the message was clear: Russia and North Korea are aligning more tightly than ever in the face of growing global pressure.

This latest development marks a dramatic escalation in Pyongyang’s support for Moscow, moving beyond rhetorical backing to concrete military assistance, and signals the emergence of a more formalized military alliance in Northeast Asia with wide-reaching global implications.

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