US expresses alarm as North Korea affirms its support for Russia’s war against Ukraine

At long last, Kim Jong-un’s North Korean army has acknowledged that it is supporting Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.

The ruling party in North Korea was quoted by the state news agency KCNA as saying on Sunday that the conclusion of the fight in Russia’s Kursk area demonstrated the “highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship” between the two countries.

In 2024, the president signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation treaty with Putin. According to the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ party in the North, the president chose to send soldiers under this treaty.

“Successfully carrying out the directives of the head of state, the sub-units of the armed forces of the Republic treated Russian territory as their own, demonstrating the unbreakable bond between the two nations,” the panel was quoted as saying by KCNA.

“The heroes who fought for justice are all representatives of the honor of the motherland,” Kim reportedly said, according to KCNA.

“Honoring an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation” is something North Korea “regards,” according to KCNA.

North Korea reportedly sent 14,000 troops, including 3,000 reinforcements to make up for losses, according to recent announcements made by Ukrainian officials.

It went on to say that North Korean forces suffered huge losses due to a lack of experience with drone warfare and armored vehicles, but that they reacted fast.

Earlier on Saturday, Russia officially acknowledged that North Korean soldiers had been fighting alongside Russians in Kursk. So, that was a first.

North Korea’s direct engagement in Russia’s conflict in Ukraine has also raised concerns at the US State Department.

The direct engagement of North Korea in the war is a source of concern for us. A representative from the State Department stated in an email that “any support provided by the Russian Federation to (North Korea) in return, as well as (North Korea’s) military deployment to Russia,” ought to come to an end. Third parties, like as North Korea, “bear responsibility” for the conflict, the representative added.