North Korean President Kim Jong Un has reiterated his full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, calling it a “just and sacred” struggle. According to the state news agency KCNA, Kim pledged continued assistance to ensure Russia’s victory. The statement came during a meeting in Pyongyang with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, where both sides discussed strengthening military cooperation.

Analysts cited in the report said North Korea has already sent missiles, ammunition, and thousands of troops to Russia in exchange for financial aid, military technology, food, and energy. Belousov announced that Moscow is ready to sign a joint cooperation plan with North Korea covering 2027 to 2031. Kim, Belousov, and Russian parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin also attended the inauguration of a memorial honoring North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine.

The memorial event, held to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s recapture of parts of the Kursk region, featured concerts, fireworks, and an air force parade. South Korea estimates that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers have died in the conflict.