Since 2022, when Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has become an important Kremlin ally, sending troops to support Moscow’s war efforts in exchange for economic benefits and military technology, analysts say.
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South Korea’s intelligence agency estimated last year that about 2,000 North Korean soldiers died in the war, while more recent estimates put the number of killed or wounded North Korean soldiers at around 6,000.
“Firmly believing in the victory of the Russian Federation in the current sacred war for the country’s security interests and the defense of international justice, I promise my constant support to you, dear comrade, and the brotherly Russian people,” Kim Jong Un wrote in a letter quoted by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday.
“The will of myself and the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is undoubtedly strong – to comprehensively expand and deepen joint work with the Russian Federation,” he said, using the official name of North Korea.
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The letter appeared amid speculation that Pyongyang is ready to send more troops to Russia to help it fight against Ukraine.
Kyiv also stated that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers are to be sent to Russia, although it provided no evidence to support this claim or deployment timelines.
In making this claim, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Seoul to supply air defense systems to protect against Russian missiles, but South Korea did not respond to this request.
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