President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday for the contribution made by Pyongyang’s military in regaining territory held by Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region.
“The Korean friends acted, guided by the sentiments of solidarity, justice and real camaraderie,” the Kremlin cited Putin as saying.
“We appreciate it a lot and are deeply grateful to comrade Kim Jong Un personally and the North Korean people”.
Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov praised the “heroism” of North Korean soldiers on Saturday, stating they “played a crucial role in overcoming the group of Ukrainian armed forces.”
North Korea confirmed for the first time on Monday that it had sent troops to Russia, with state news agency KCNA reporting that its soldiers assisted Moscow in reclaiming land in Kursk.
South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have long indicated that North Korea dispatched over 10,000 troops to support operations in Kursk last year.
