Moscow – Russia – August 14, 2025 –
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the international community, Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for deploying troops to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. The acknowledgment, made during a “warm and comradely” phone call between the two leaders, confirms an unprecedented level of military cooperation between the two nations and underscores the shifting geopolitical landscape in the face of the ongoing conflict.
According to a report from the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Putin expressed his appreciation for the “bravery, heroism and self-sacrificing spirit displayed by service personnel of the Korean People’s Army in liberating Kursk.” This statement marks the first time a senior Russian official has publicly confirmed and praised the direct involvement of North Korean soldiers in the war. The call, which took place just days before Putin is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, also saw the two leaders pledge to “strengthen cooperation” in the future.
Western intelligence reports, corroborated by South Korean assessments, suggest that North Korea has sent thousands of troops and supplied a massive quantity of military equipment, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to assist Russian forces. South Korean intelligence reports a deployment of at least 15,000 troops since last fall, with additional contingents expected to arrive in the coming months. These forces are reportedly being used as an “expendable workforce” to sustain Russia’s war of attrition, with a high casualty rate of two in every five North Korean troops in some areas. Ukrainian intelligence has even reportedly recovered handwritten combat instructions and letters from North Korean soldiers killed in battle, offering a grim look into the reality on the ground.
The deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea is a significant development in the Ukraine war, which has entered its fourth year. North Korea’s military aid, which includes millions of artillery rounds, has provided a crucial boost to Russia’s depleted arsenals, allowing Moscow to maintain its offensive capabilities despite heavy losses. The new cooperation has also reportedly extended to military technology, with Russia dispatching specialists to train North Korean soldiers on the use of combat drones and air-defense systems. Ukrainian military intelligence chiefs have warned that this influx of technology and battlefield experience is not only impacting the war in Europe but could also affect the balance of power in Northeast Asia.
The international reaction to the deployment of North Korean troops has been swift and condemnatory. Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, warned that the deployment demonstrates Russia’s commitment to protracting the war and signals a new phase of the conflict. He also noted that the West’s response to the deployment has been “zero,” with the exception of strong words. The US and South Korea have both called on China to use its influence to prevent further escalation, a plea that has been met with silence from Beijing.
In an interview with The Guardian, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed his frustration with what he sees as a lack of an adequate response from Ukraine’s western allies. He and his Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, have called on Western nations to lift restrictions on the use of long-range missiles against Russian territory, arguing that the North Korean troop deployment is a “true escalation” of the war that requires a “strong reaction.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has also called the military cooperation between the two nations a “significant escalation” and a “threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security.”
The timing of Putin’s phone call with Kim is particularly notable as it comes ahead of his crucial summit with President Trump in Alaska. By publicly acknowledging and thanking Kim for the military support, Putin is sending a clear message to the West that he is not isolated and that he has powerful, if unconventional, allies. He is also signaling that he is prepared to double down on his war strategy and rely on partners like North Korea to sustain his military efforts, despite international pressure. For North Korea, the alliance is highly transactional; in exchange for manpower and munitions, it is believed to be receiving critical access to advanced Russian military technology and strategic support, bolstering its own defense capabilities.
As the war in Ukraine continues to evolve, the deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea is a major cause for concern. It has introduced a new and unpredictable element into the conflict, complicated the efforts of the US and its allies to end the fighting, and created a new fault line in global geopolitics. The outcome of the upcoming Trump-Putin summit will be a crucial test of whether diplomacy can succeed in a world where alliances are being redrawn and the rules of engagement are being challenged by countries willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their objectives.
