Kim Jong Un Pledges Invariable Support for Russia's War

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged "invariable support" for Russia and a commitment to expand and deepen joint work in a message to President Vladimir Putin. The communication, reported by the Korean Central News Agency on September 15, responded to Putin's congratulations for North Korea's 78th founding anniversary. Kim characterized the invasion of Ukraine as a "sacred war for defending the security interests of the country and international justice."

This diplomatic exchange follows a period of intensifying military cooperation, including a mutual defense pact and the deployment of North Korean troops to fight alongside Russian forces starting in 2024. South Korean intelligence estimates that between 2,000 and 6,000 North Korean soldiers have already been killed or wounded in the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that up to 50,000 additional North Korean troops may be slated for deployment to Russia, though Kyiv has not provided a specific timeframe or evidence for these arrivals. In response to the growing threat, Zelenskyy has requested air defense systems from South Korea, but Seoul has not yet responded or supplied lethal weapons directly. Kim also sent a separate message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, vowing to advance a shared socialist cause and develop traditional friendship.