Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea’s Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, September 3 for helping him oust Ukrainian soldiers from the Kursk region, saying Korean troops fought “heroically.”
In a meeting with Kim in Beijing, Putin also praised their countries’ “trust and friendship” and said that the North Korean leader first proposed sending in his armed forces.
The Hermit Kingdom has become one of Russia’s main allies since it invaded Ukraine three-and-a-half years ago, deploying thousands of troops and container-loads of weapons to help the Kremlin push Ukrainian forces out of western Russia, following Kyiv’s shock incursion last year. Putin told his North Korean counterpart
On your initiative, as is well known, your special forces took part in the liberation of the Kursk region. This was in full accordance with our new agreement. I would like to note that your soldiers fought courageously and heroically. …. We will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen.
Putin made the comments in the Chinese capital, where the two leaders were attending a massive parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s Second World War surrender.
