Camilla Jessen
Russia has officially pledged to provide military assistance to North Korea if needed.
The Kremlin said on Sunday it is ready to provide military assistance to North Korea under the terms of a strategic partnership treaty signed last year, Russian media outlet Vedomosti reported.
“Without a doubt. We have a treaty in place, and under this treaty, the parties are obliged to provide immediate assistance to each other if necessary,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Peskov pointed to the participation of North Korean troops in Russia’s military operation in the Kursk region as evidence of the treaty’s effectiveness. Russia officially confirmed the involvement of North Korean forces after the conclusion of the operation on April 26.
When asked whether North Korean soldiers had been compensated for their role, Peskov directed questions to Russia’s Defense Ministry, citing military operation protocols. He added that there are currently no plans for a meeting between the Russian and North Korean leaders.
Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov earlier acknowledged the contribution of North Korean troops in a report to President Vladimir Putin. Prior to this, reports of North Korea’s involvement came mainly from Western media and Ukrainian officials.
Russia and North Korea ratified their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in November 2024. The agreement commits both sides to assist each other in the event of armed conflict, avoid treaties with third parties that could harm each other’s interests, and prevent their territories from being used for actions against the other.
The treaty was signed after Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024. At that time, North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui pledged Pyongyang’s full support for Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Peskov also said that North Korea now supplies up to half of the artillery shells used by Russian forces, as part of the strategic partnership agreement.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has previously praised the country’s soldiers for their role in supporting Russia’s military efforts, calling them heroes and promising to erect a monument in their honor in Pyongyang.
South Korean intelligence estimates that nearly 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to assist Russia, with around 4,000 reported killed or wounded.
Despite the high casualty rates, Peskov praised the North Korean troops for their “effective functioning” and credited them with helping push Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region.
Reports suggest that North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia has resulted in significant economic gains, with Pyongyang earning more than $20 billion. The majority of this, around $19.2 billion, reportedly comes from supplying munitions, including artillery shells, rockets, and ballistic missiles.