North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has used his New Year's address to publicly praise his nation's troops deployed in support of Russia's war in Ukraine, framing their mission as the forging of an "invincible alliance" with Moscow.
A Message from the 'Alien Land'
In a speech delivered at a lavish New Year's concert at Pyongyang's May Day stadium, Kim directly addressed soldiers fighting abroad. According to a report from the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, Kim said he missed the men "fighting bravely on the battlefields in the alien land."
He congratulated them on their "heroic" defence of national honour and instructed them to "be brave." "Behind you are Pyongyang and Moscow," Kim asserted, calling on the troops to fight "for the fraternal Russian people." He also hinted at expanded overseas action this year, referencing "remarkable feats you will perform on the overseas battlefields."
The Cost and Calculations of the Alliance
The public praise comes amid confirmed intelligence that Pyongyang has sent thousands of military personnel to aid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now nearing its fourth year. Estimates from South Korean intelligence suggest a significant human cost, with at least 600 North Korean soldiers killed and thousands more injured.
In return for this military support, analysts indicate North Korea is receiving crucial financial aid, military technology, and supplies of food and energy from Russia. This deepening partnership is seen as an economic lifeline for Kim's regime, allowing him to rebuff recent diplomatic overtures from the United States and South Korea.
A Grim Reality on the Ground
Despite the heroic rhetoric from Pyongyang, first-hand accounts depict a dire situation for North Korean forces embedded in Europe's most brutal conflict in decades. Reports from South Korea's intelligence service and captured soldiers reveal that Pyongyang's troops have been ordered to kill themselves rather than be taken prisoner.
Two North Korean soldiers, captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025 after being wounded, have reportedly expressed a desire to defect to South Korea. Their testimonies contrast sharply with the official narrative broadcast by KCNA.
Kim was accompanied at the New Year's event by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and his daughter, Ju Ae, who is widely believed to be his likely successor. The staged celebration and strategic messaging underscore the regime's focus on consolidating power and securing its future through its pivotal, and costly, partnership with the Kremlin.
