Beijing: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have engaged in discussions concerning "long-term" plans for bilateral cooperation during their talks in Beijing, held on the sidelines of China's military parade, state media reported Thursday. The discussions took place shortly after both leaders, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, attended China's large-scale military parade.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim and Putin "discussed in detail the long-term plans for cooperation between the two countries and reaffirmed their steadfast will to continue to lead the bilateral relations to a high level," as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Putin described the bilateral ties as "special ones of trust, friendship and alliance," emphasizing that Russia will "always remember" the sacrifices made by North Korean troops deployed for Moscow's war with Ukraine.
Kim expressed North Korea's full support for Russia's efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, highlighting a "fraternal duty" to assist Moscow. The two leaders also engaged in "an open-minded exchange" of views on significant international and regional issues, although further details were not elaborated by the KCNA.
Russian media outlets reported that Putin extended an invitation to Kim for another visit to Russia. However, this detail was not mentioned in North Korea's state media reports. The Kim-Putin talks have sparked interest regarding the potential evolution of military cooperation between the two nations, particularly as expectations rise about the conclusion of Russia's war with Ukraine.
Since October of the previous year, North Korea has contributed approximately 15,000 troops and weaponry to support Russia's war efforts. South Korea's spy agency recently indicated that North Korea is likely to deploy an additional 6,000 soldiers to Russia in a third troop deployment, with estimates suggesting around 2,000 North Korean troops have perished in the conflict.
Kim's participation alongside Xi and Putin at China's 80th-anniversary celebrations of victory against Japan and the conclusion of World War II marked his debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage. The presence of the trio at Tiananmen Square symbolized a united front against the United States.