Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his gratitude to the soldiers of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) who took part in military operations in the Kursk region, which was recently liberated from occupation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Putin praised the “courage and dedication” demonstrated by the North Korean troops, highlighting their significant role in pushing back the Ukrainian offensive that began in August 2024, when newly formed Ukrainian units, equipped with NATO-supplied weapons, crossed into Russian territory.
In response, Russian authorities launched an anti-terrorist operation within the Kursk region, officially classifying the incursion as a terrorist attack by Ukraine.
As already stated by the North Korean government, President Putin also reiterated that the deployment of North Korean troops was fully in line with international law, describing it as a legitimate joint response by two sovereign nations to a common threat.