Russia and North Korea have agreed to strengthen what they described as “long-term” military cooperation, according to Russia’s defence ministry, following high-level talks held in Pyongyang involving senior Russian defence officials.
The development comes as North Korea continues to provide military support to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, reportedly sending thousands of troops, alongside missiles and ammunition, to assist Moscow’s battlefield operations.
In return, analysts say Russia has been supplying North Korea with financial assistance, food, energy, and advanced military technology, helping Pyongyang ease the impact of international sanctions linked to its nuclear weapons programme.
Both countries signed a military cooperation treaty in 2024, which commits them to mutual military assistance in the event either side is attacked.
Russia’s Defence Minister, Andrey Belousov, said both sides had agreed to place their military relationship on a more structured and long-term basis, with plans underway to formalise a cooperation framework covering the period between 2027 and 2031.
He made the remarks during a visit to Pyongyang, where he also attended the opening of a memorial dedicated to North Korean soldiers who died supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
Belousov held meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and senior defence officials, while Russian parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin also met with Kim, expressing appreciation for North Korean troops involved in operations in Russia’s Kursk region.
According to Russian officials, North Korean soldiers participated in efforts to repel Ukrainian advances in the area, which Moscow described as “liberation” operations.
Military honours were reportedly awarded to North Korean personnel who took part in the campaign.
Reports indicate that thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed in support of Russia’s war effort, with Seoul estimating that about 2,000 of them may have been killed.
There are also claims that North Korean soldiers were instructed to avoid capture at all costs, with only a small number reportedly taken alive by Ukrainian forces.
The deepening military ties highlight the growing strategic alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang amid ongoing global tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine.
