Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Beijing on Wednesday for bilateral talks, following their attendance at a large military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The leaders held their meeting at the Diaoyutai state guest house, after arriving together in the same car from an official reception, according to the Kremlin. The talks included a session with delegations from both countries and a private one-on-one meeting between Putin and Kim. Putin also extended an invitation for Kim to revisit Russia, following his trip there in 2023. At the start of discussions, Putin praised the “bravery and heroism” of North Korean soldiers who, alongside Russian troops, repelled a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk border region.
South Korean intelligence estimates that Pyongyang has deployed roughly 15,000 soldiers to Russia since last year, along with ballistic missiles, artillery, and other military supplies to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Kim, in his opening remarks, said ties between North Korea and Russia had “significantly strengthened” since both sides signed a strategic partnership agreement in June 2023. Without directly referencing the conflict in Ukraine, he pledged that Pyongyang would continue to support Moscow, calling it a “fraternal duty” to assist whenever needed.
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