Putin acknowledges North Korea’s help in Kursk against Ukraine: 'They defended our country as if it were their own'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly thanked North Korea for its military support in the Kursk region, where North Korean troops fought alongside Russian forces against Ukrainian militants.
The first instance of North Korea providing troops to Russia, in support of its offensive against Ukraine, came soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Pyongyang for its "active participation" in the Kursk region in a statement where he said: "They defended our homeland as if it were their own, in a joint operation with Russian fighters." On April 26, Putin stated that, Russia has "completed the defeat of a group of Ukrainian militants who had invaded the Kursk region."
The deepening ties between Russia and North Korea, especially regarding the prosecution of the war in Ukraine, puts them both in the spotlight of international attention. The military cooperation serves Russia not only to beef up its presence in the conflict, but creates yet another obstacle for Western powers who are trying to isolate the Kremlin. North Korea on the battlefield adds yet another wrinkle to an already convoluted conflict that has already fractured the global order.
How did the bond between Putin and Kim Jong-un form?
The military affinity between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un did not come about by accident. Both leaders have come under major international sanctions, so their development of partnerships served as a viable way to combat Western aggression.
According to foreign policy experts, North Korea's deployment of soldiers to Kursk is part of the series of agreements approved last year. "Moscow and Pyongyang have a story that is similar to each other through their resistance to the dominance of western countries," Andrei Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, said.
North Korean troops, who have received urban combat training, are said to be heavily involved in the recovery of Kursk, a strategic region that had been under attack from Ukrainian forces.
An anonymous source within the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation claimed that North Korean troops "fought alongside our troops, displaying the utmost courageousness and discipline.
Putin to North Korea's leader: "My personal gratitude to Kim Jong-un"
"Units of the Korean People's Army played an important part in defeating neo-Nazi formations of the Kyiv regime which invaded the territory while completely adhering to International Law and abiding by the Strategic Partnership Treaty of which Russia and North Korea are majority partners." "The Korean troops who came to our aid came from a place of respect, solidarity, justice, and real camaraderie," he asserted.
The president remarked about his, "sincere and personal gratitude to Comrade Kim Jong-un, to the entire North Korean leadership, and to the people of North Korea." He then layed words over the, "heroism, high level of training, and the commitment of the Korean soldiers, who defended our homeland, like it was their home, hand in hand with Russian fighters." And to end he said, "they executed their duty with honour and bravery, earning glory which will be eternal."
Additionally, the president declared that "the Russian people will never forget the accomplishment of the North Korean special forces." He stressed that "we will always honor the Korean heroes who lost their lives for Russia, for our shared freedom with their Russian comrades-in-arms." In this way, he reaffirmed the commitment to remember and honor a shared sacrifice to defend common ideals.
Putin announces 3-day ceasefire
Putin declared, on Monday, that a 72-hour ceasefire would commence at midnight on 7 May and would conclude at midnight on 10 May.
The Russian president, intends, to honor the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union and Allies victory in World War II. In a statement, the Kremlin indicated that "All military action will cease during this period. Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow suit."
Furthermore, he cautioned, any violent actions initiated by Ukraine would result in an immediate response: "In case of violations by the Ukrainian side, the Russian armed forces will give an adequate and effective response."
The announcement followed U.S. President Donald Trump's excoriation of Putin for last week's violent Russian assault on Kiev.