Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed his "full support" for Russia during his phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as reported by Pyongyang's state media on Wednesday. This announcement comes ahead of an upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin set to take place in Alaska.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim and Putin held their phone conversation on the previous day, marking a rare instance where North Korea has publicly disclosed its leader's communication with a foreign head of state. The discussions between Kim and Putin occurred as the Russian President and President Trump prepare for a summit in Alaska on Friday, aimed at addressing efforts to end Moscow's ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Kim expressed his steadfast belief that North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), would remain committed to the DPRK-Russia treaty. He pledged to fully support any measures taken by the Russian leadership in the future. This treaty, a mutual defense pact, was signed between the two nations in June of the previous year.
During the talks, Putin commended the "bravery, heroism and self-sacrificing spirit" demonstrated by the Korean People's Army in liberating Kursk, a region of Russian territory, as per the KCNA report. Russia's TASS news agency previously reported that Putin had briefed Kim on the upcoming meeting with Trump, although the KCNA did not include these specifics in its report.
The KCNA further noted that Putin extended congratulations to North Korea on the forthcoming 80th anniversary of its liberation from Japanese colonial rule, which will be observed on August 15. Both leaders reaffirmed their intent to strengthen bilateral cooperation and agreed to maintain closer contact in the future.
The mutual defense treaty signed in June last year stipulates that both nations will provide military assistance "without delay" if either party faces an attack. In support of Russia's military efforts, North Korea has already dispatched troops and weapons. Russian media outlets have reported that North Korea will send 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Kursk to aid in reconstruction efforts.