NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un has restated his country’s commitment to its defence agreement with Russia, sending a message to President Vladimir Putin congratulating Moscow on the anniversary of its World War Two victory over Nazi Germany, according to state media KCNA.
In the message, Kim said North Korea would give “top priority” to its strategic partnership with Russia and remain committed to “the implementation of the obligations of the inter-state treaty,” KCNA reported.
The statement reinforces the growing alignment between Pyongyang and Moscow following the signing of a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” in 2024 during a visit by Putin to North Korea.
Reuters reported on Saturday that the agreement includes a mutual defence clause, marking one of the most significant formal military alignments between the two countries in decades.
Western, South Korean and Ukrainian officials have said North Korea has already provided substantial military support to Russia during the war in Ukraine, including the deployment of an estimated 14,000 troops to the Kursk region.
Intelligence assessments cited by those governments suggest that more than 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the fighting, highlighting the scale of Pyongyang’s involvement.
The renewed show of solidarity comes as Russia marks Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. This year’s celebrations were notably scaled back, with officials citing security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Moscow’s traditional military parade in Red Square was reduced in scale, reflecting heightened fears of Ukrainian strikes as the war, now in its fifth year, continues to test Russia’s military resources and domestic resilience.
The commemorations also coincided with a new, U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, announced by President Donald Trump. The temporary truce, running from 9 May to 11 May, includes a planned exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war on each side.
Russia and Ukraine confirmed the arrangement on Friday, though both sides have continued to accuse each other of ceasefire violations in recent days, underscoring the fragility of diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict. - May 9, 2026
