N. Korea's Kim says participation in Russia's war against Ukraine justified
North Korean leader Kim Jong-eun is seen speaking on a visit to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, Friday. The Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday the leader visited the embassy a day earlier marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's part in the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II, known as Victory Day. Yonhap
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the North's deployment of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine was "justifiable," calling it an exercise of sovereign rights under a mutual defense treaty with Moscow, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday.
Kim made the remarks during his visit to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang the previous day to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II, known as Victory Day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Citing a mutual defense treaty signed last year with Russia, Kim said he issued the order to send the North's troops to Russia to "liberate" the Kursk front-line region as he was determined to faithfully implement the treaty.
"Our involvement in the war was justifiable, and this belongs to our sovereign rights," Kim said during a congratulatory speech, calling the North's troops engaged in combat against Ukraine "heroes."
Last month, North Korea acknowledged for the first time that it has dispatched troops to fight alongside Russia against Ukraine. Seoul's spy agency said the North has sent around 15,000 soldiers to Russia so far and is believed to have incurred more than 4,700 casualties, including some 600 deaths.
The new partnership treaty clinched between the two nations in June last year calls for providing military assistance "without delay" if either side comes under attack.
Claiming that Ukraine has invaded Russia's territory, the North's leader said he will not be hesitant to use North Korea's military force if the United States and its vassal states seek to stage another attack against Russia.
"If they are allowed to grow undisguised in their military actions against the territory of the nuclear power, the Ukrainian puppets will naturally become brazen enough to make more outrageous and daring attempts, and the troops in Seoul, who are most faithful lackeys of the U.S., will likewise become increasingly reckless," Kim said.
Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of Victory Day with a military parade Friday, attended by foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Kim was widely expected to have been invited to the celebrations, but he did not visit Moscow, apparently due to security and logistics.