Vladimir Putin thanks Kim Jong Un for the North Koreans who fight in Ukraine

Russian Vladimir Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the courage of his soldiers who fight in Ukraine on the Russian side.

Kim in response said he was ready to do “everything I can to help” Russia.

The two leaders met on Wednesday in Beijing as China held one of its largest military parades, which celebrated 80 years since the end of World War II in Asia.

Putin, who began a full -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, said bilateral relations between Russia and North Korea were friendly and that the military in Pyongyang helped to release the Kursk area.

“Your soldiers fought boldly and heroically,” Putin told Kim during the talks on Wednesday.

“I would like to point out that we will never forget the victims who have injured your armed forces and the families of your servicemen.”

Kim expressed his gratitude for the recognition of the Russian leader for North Korea troops and said that bilateral relations between the two countries have “progressed in all areas” – mentioning Pyongyang’s participation in the “joint struggle” with Russia in Ukraine.

“If there is any way to help Russia, we will surely make it a brotherly duty.”

According to South Korea, the North has sent about 15,000 soldiers to help Russia in their invasion, along with long -distance missiles and weapons. In return, it is believed that North Korea has received food, money and technical assistance.

These soldiers have participated in Moscow’s efforts to restore parts of West Kursk – Where the Ukrainians protect a small area of ​​territory captured during a surprising invasion in August – and it is believed that they have received heavy losses.

Western officials said in January that at least 1,000 had died in just three months. Two months later, MPs in Seoul said they believe there were about 4,700 casualties in North Korea, including 600 deaths, out of a total of 15,000.

It is believed that North Korean troops, none of whom will have previous combat experience, spent their first weeks in Russia in training and then in support of the roles.

This is the third meeting of two years and at a time when Moscow and Pyongyang deepen their cooperation.

Last June, Putin and Kim signed a deal Promising that Russia and North Korea will help each other in the case of “aggression” against every country.

At that time, Kim welcomed the contract as “the strongest ever”. He confirmed this support a few weeks ago when he offered Moscow his “unconditional support” for the war in Ukraine.

Pyongyang for the first time publicly admitted that he was sending troops to Russia in April, months after Ukraine and the West revealed the large-scale movement of North Korea troops to the Russian-Ukrainian pediment.

In addition to soldiers, North Korea also promised to send thousands of workers to help restore Russia torn apart the Kursk region, Moscow’s security chief said in JuneS

Last week during a special ceremony, The North Korean leader met with soldiers’ families A killed battle for Russia against Ukraine.

During the event, Kim said he was filled with “grief”, managing to return the soldiers alive, promising to build a monument in their honor and to take care of their children.

“I was thinking a lot about the families of other martyrs who did not attend (at the previous ceremony) … So this meeting was settled, as I wanted to meet and comfort the families of the victims of all the characters and to release them from their grief and grief even a little,” the State news agency KCNA reports.