Kim Praises His Forces Abroad: North Korea Set to Provide Greater Support to Moscow

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised his country’s forces “deployed abroad,” in a clear reference to Pyongyang’s support for Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

Since Russia launched its war against Ukraine in 2022, North Korea has become a key ally of the Kremlin and has sent troops to support Moscow’s war effort in exchange for economic benefits and military technology, according to analysts.

In a speech marking the anniversary of North Korea’s founding on September 9, 1948, Kim praised his compatriots living abroad but singled out the forces deployed outside the country for special recognition, according to the official news agency on Thursday.

Kim said: “I also express my special gratitude and deep appreciation to the leaders and soldiers of our armed forces who are participating in military operations abroad.”

He added: “Our supreme ideal is being realized rapidly thanks to the patriotic spirit, voluntary efforts, and sincere contributions of all citizens who pray for the prosperity of the country.”

South Korea says that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

In August, Ukraine claimed that Moscow had used North Korean ballistic missiles in an attack that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens more.

Kyiv also said that as many as 50,000 North Korean soldiers were expected to be deployed to Russia, without providing evidence to support the claim or specifying a timeframe for the deployment.

In this context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Seoul to provide his country with air defense systems to protect it from Russian missiles. Ukraine has not received a response from the South Korean side to this request.