MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin sat down with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the Kremlin on Sunday, offering his thanks for North Korea’s role in what Moscow refers to as its special military operation, according to a statement from the Kremlin.
The meeting comes after North Korean troops played a significant part in helping Russia repel a large-scale Ukrainian military push into Russia’s western Kursk region in 2024.
Under a mutual defense agreement between the two countries, North Korea contributed approximately 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in Kursk.
Ukrainian troops had crossed the border into Kursk in August 2024, managing to hold onto considerable portions of territory for several months before being driven back.
During Sunday’s meeting, Choe conveyed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had recently reaffirmed his country’s dedication to the full development of its relationship with the Russian Federation, the Kremlin reported.
