A statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin was published on the official Kremlin website, in which he expressed his gratitude to the leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, for the participation of North Korean soldiers on the side of Russia in the fighting in the Russian Kursk region, BTA reports.
The statement was released after North Korea officially admitted for the first time that it had sent its soldiers to fight against Ukrainian forces in the region.
"Units of the Korean People's Army took an active part in the defeat of the neo-Nazi formations of the Kiev regime that invaded our territory - in full compliance with international law and in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of June 19, 2024. In particular, with Article 4 of the treaty, which provides for immediate military assistance in the event of an armed attack on one of the parties to it," Putin's statement said.
"The Korean friends acted out of a sense of solidarity, justice and true comradeship. We highly appreciate this and are sincerely grateful to the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, Comrade Kim Jong-un, as well as to the entire leadership and people of the DPRK," the Russian President emphasized.
He added: "The Russian people will never forget the feat of the Korean special forces fighters. We will always honor the Korean heroes who gave their lives for Russia, for our common freedom, together with their Russian brothers in arms. We are confident that the relations of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation between our countries, tempered on the battlefield, will continue to develop successfully and dynamically in all areas."