North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised that his country will "continually support" Russia in its war in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, North Korean state media reported today.
A Russian military delegation led by Defense Minister Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday, amid growing international concern over cooperation between the two countries and after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia last month.
Korean state news agency KCNA reported that Kim and Belousov reached a "satisfactory agreement" on strengthening strategic partnership and defending the sovereignty, security interests and international justice of each country in the rapidly changing international security environment.
Belousov also met with North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol. During the dinner, Belousov said that the strategic partnership of the two countries is key to defending their sovereignty against aggression.
Kim said North Korea "will support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to KCNA.
North Korea has backed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, calling it a defensive response to what both Moscow and Pyongyang call NATO's "reckless" eastward expansion and US-led moves to weaken Russia.
Earlier in November, Kim condemned the US decision to allow Ukraine to hit targets inside Russia with longer-range US-supplied missiles as a direct intervention in the conflict. He called the recent Russian strikes on Ukraine "a timely and effective measure," KCNA said.
North Korea and Russia have not officially confirmed sending North Korean troops to war in Ukraine and have consistently denied reports of arms shipments.
South Korea, the US and Western partners are concerned that Russia could provide North Korea with advanced military technology, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles.
In June, Kim and Vladimir Putin signed an agreement requiring both countries to provide military assistance if either was attacked.
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