N. Korea voices support for 'multi-polarized' world order amid deepening alignment with Russia
This photo shows Pak Yong-il, left, vice director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, who left Pyongyang the previous day to attend an international anti-fascism event in Moscow, captured from the website of North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, April 29. Yonhap
A senior North Korean military official has expressed the North's support for a "multi-polarized" world order at an international anti-fascism event in Russia, state media reported Friday, amid Pyongyang's deepening alignment with Moscow.
Pak Yong-il, vice director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, made the remarks during the 3rd International Anti-Fascist Congress held in Moscow on Wednesday, according to the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper.
North Korea's military delegation, led by Pak, left for Russia on Monday to attend the international event after Pyongyang acknowledged for the first time that it has deployed troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.
At the anti-fascist event, Pak said North Korea has a steadfast stance that it will contribute to "the establishment of independent and multi-polarized world order without domination, subjugation and hegemony," according to the newspaper.
He said North Korea will exercise its sovereign rights for self-defense against enemies' schemes to revive fascism in the Asia-Pacific region.
Pak's trip to Russia comes as Moscow is set to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory Day on May 9, which commemorates the Soviet Union's World War II victory over Nazi Germany.
Earlier this week, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers that the North's leader Kim Jong-un is not likely to attend Russia's Victory Day ceremony, citing the lack of signs of security measures. It said Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the North's parliamentary standing committee, is highly likely to take part in the celebrations, instead.