North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has promised to do “everything I can to assist” Russia during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, where both leaders attended China’s military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Putin praised North Korean fighters for acting “courageously and heroically” in Russia’s war against Ukraine and invited Kim to visit Russia.
The bilateral meeting, which lasted over two hours, took place on the sidelines of the parade hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Kim told Putin: “If there’s anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation we need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help.” After the meeting, Kim hugged Putin and said “see you soon,” to which Putin replied, “We are waiting for you. Come visit us.”
North Korea has become a key ally of Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, supplying artillery shells, missiles, and thousands of troops to fight in Russia’s Kursk region. Putin thanked North Korea for its support, describing the troops as fighting “courageously” in helping oust Ukrainian forces from the region. The two countries signed an agreement last year obliging mutual military assistance in the event of an attack.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Putin’s “impunity” after Russia launched a sweeping overnight attack on Ukraine, firing an estimated 500 drones and two dozen missiles at civilian infrastructure, particularly energy facilities. The attack also prompted Poland to scramble defence aircraft. Zelenskyy urged tougher sanctions on Moscow, stating that the aggression continues due to insufficient pressure on Russia’s war economy.
In Beijing, Putin said Russian forces were advancing on “all fronts” but expressed openness to peace negotiations “if common sense prevails,” though he insisted such talks should be held in Moscow—a venue swiftly rejected by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha as “unacceptable.” Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, and there are calls for an arrest warrant against Kim for aiding Russia’s war.
No formal trilateral meeting between Kim, Putin, and Xi has been announced. Analysts note that while Xi and Putin have declared a “limitless” partnership, Beijing is uneasy about Russia’s war in Ukraine and North Korea’s direct support, as Xi seeks to balance alliances while avoiding further sanctions from the US and its allies.
