North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly acknowledged the participation of his country’s soldiers in Russia’s war against Ukraine, praising them for fighting on “foreign soil” to strengthen what he called an “invincible alliance” with Moscow. In a New Year address delivered in Pyongyang, Kim urged North Korean troops to fight for the “brotherly Russian people” and expressed personal gratitude to soldiers deployed abroad, according to The Guardian’s report on Kim Jong Un’s New Year speech.
Speaking during a festive event at a stadium in the North Korean capital, Kim said he missed the troops even as the country marked the New Year, stressing that both Pyongyang and Moscow stood behind them. State media images showed Kim accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and his daughter Ju Ae, widely seen by analysts as a potential successor, underscoring the political symbolism of the moment.
From covert support to declared military alliance
Kim’s remarks amount to the clearest public confirmation to date that North Korean forces are directly involved in Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine. Intelligence assessments from South Korea indicate that at least 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed, with thousands more wounded, highlighting the scale of Pyongyang’s commitment. The statement signals a shift from tacit cooperation to an openly declared military and political alliance.
The partnership goes beyond manpower. Pyongyang has supplied weapons and ammunition to Russia, while receiving financial support, food, energy resources and advanced military technologies in return. Analysts say Russian assistance has included support for missile production and naval capabilities, deepening North Korea’s access to sensitive know-how.
Strategic risks for Asia-Pacific security
The deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang is raising concerns well beyond Europe. South Korea, the United States, Japan and Australia are reassessing regional security risks as North Korea gains resources and technologies that could be redirected towards the Korean peninsula. This dynamic is expected to fuel higher defence spending and further strain already limited diplomatic channels.
Russia’s cooperation with North Korea also runs counter to UN Security Council resolutions banning the transfer of technologies linked to weapons of mass destruction. By facilitating such exchanges, Moscow is weakening the international arms control regime and signalling a readiness to bypass global rules in pursuit of strategic advantage.
War in Ukraine as an economic lifeline for Pyongyang
For Kim Jong Un’s regime, the alliance with Russia has become an economic and political lifeline at a time of deep isolation and sanctions pressure. In exchange for shells, missiles and troops, North Korea receives critical supplies that help stabilise its domestic situation and reduce its dependence on China. This support strengthens Kim’s internal position while encouraging a more assertive foreign policy posture.
The formalisation of ties dates back to the summer of 2024, when Kim and Vladimir Putin signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, institutionalising long-term cooperation beyond tactical arms transfers. Kim’s New Year statement now places this alliance firmly in the open, reinforcing the emergence of a broader anti-Western axis whose consequences extend from Ukraine to the Asia-Pacific region.
