North Korea has confirmed for
the first time it deployed troops to fight for
Russia in the war with Ukraine, according to state media.
KCNA reported its troops made an “important contribution” to expelling Ukrainian forces from Russian territory, presumably Kursk.
Kim Jong Un made the decision to deploy troops to Russia and notified Moscow, it said.
It comes after Russia acknowledged North Korean troops were on the front lines yesterday, with a senior military official crediting their role in helping Russian forces reclaim control of the Kursk region.
Valery Gerasimov, the Russian chief of general staff, told Vladimir Putin: “I want to point out the participation of servicemen from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the liberation of the Kursk Region’s border areas, who, in accordance with the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our countries, provided significant assistance in defeating the invading group of the Ukrainian armed forces.
“Soldiers and officers of the Korean People’s Army, carrying out combat missions shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen, displayed high professionalism, fortitude, courage and heroism in repulsing the Ukrainian invasion.”