Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday thanked North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for deploying troops to help Russian forces drive Ukrainian soldiers from the Kursk region, praising them for fighting “heroically.”
Meeting Kim in Beijing, Putin hailed the “trust and friendship” between their nations, noting that the decision to send troops had been Kim’s initiative.
“On your initiative, as is well known, your special forces took part in the liberation of the Kursk region,” Putin said at the start of their talks, filmed by AFP. “Your soldiers fought courageously and heroically. We will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen.”
North Korea has become a key ally for Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine three-and-a-half years ago, supplying thousands of troops and shipments of weapons to bolster Russian advances after Kyiv’s shock incursion into western Russia last year.
The two countries signed a strategic partnership last year requiring them to provide “military and other assistance” if either is attacked.
The meeting in Beijing lasted around two-and-a-half hours, according to Russia’s TASS news agency. Putin walked Kim to his car afterwards, with footage showing them shaking hands and hugging before the Russian leader invited him to visit Russia.
“We are waiting for you,” Putin said.
Kim, who seldom leaves North Korea, travelled to Beijing on his armoured train. Both leaders are attending a parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump accused Putin, Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping of “conspiring” against Washington in Beijing — remarks the Kremlin said it hoped were intended ironically.