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By Isabel van Brugen
News Reporter
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A top Russian official praised North Korean troops for assisting President Vladimir Putin's military in the Ukraine war.
Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said the troops deployed by Pyongyang to Russia had fought "valiantly" in the Kursk region, Kremlin newswire Tass reported on Thursday.
Why It Matters
Just months ago, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims by Ukraine and South Korea, denying reports that North Korean troops were involved in the conflict. However, Moscow and Pyongyang issued statements confirming the deployment in April. The praise from Shoigu highlights the growing ties between the two nations amid the ongoing war.
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What To Know
Kyiv and Seoul said in December that Pyongyang had deployed an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 servicemen to Russia to fight Ukrainian forces.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Shoigu said the troops deployed to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fought as if they were defending their own country.
"They fought for the liberation of our land, as for the liberation of their own land," the former defense minister said, adding that he thanked North Korean officials for their assistance in the border region of Kursk, where Ukraine had launched a cross-border incursion last year.
In April, Moscow said it had repelled Ukrainian forces from the area.
Andriy Kovalenko, an official on Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said in March that North Korean troops were storming the front lines in Kursk in "columns."
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called his troops deployed to Russia "heroes" and said their operation to push Ukrainian forces out of Russia's Kursk region was a "sacred mission."
"They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland," North Korean state news agency KCNA reported last month.
Weeks ago, the Kremlin released video footage that showed North Korean troops in action. The video showed soldiers being instructed on firing grenade launchers, neutralizing enemy drones and clearing trenches.
What People Are Saying
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un spoke of the Russian alliance in a statement late April, saying Pyongyang is "pleased that the participation of the sub-units of our armed forces in the war has further strengthened the militant ties between the two countries."
Russian President Vladimir Putin also said: "The Russian people will never forget the feat of the North Korean special forces fighters. We will always honor the [North Korean] heroes who gave their lives for Russia, for our common freedom, on a par with Russian brothers in arms."
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "With their public admission of the deployment, while claiming they are fully in accordance with international law, they are once again mocking the international community. We strongly condemn this action.
"The dispatch of the North Korean troops, along with broader military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, constitutes a grave violation of international norms, including the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions."
Andriy Kovalenko said in a YouTube video in March: "The enemy is pouring everything he can on the Kursk region. The [North] Korean troops are trying to storm...in columns, they're actually running across fields."
What Happens Next
It's unclear if North Korea will deploy more troops to Russia. South Korea has said it considers the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia a violation of the UN Charter and the UN Security Council resolution.
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