Kim Jong Un vows DPRK-Russia military alliance to ‘advance nonstop’
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Kim Jong Un says the DPRK's military alliance with Russia will “advance nonstop,” as Pyongyang continues to deepen its ties with Moscow.
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DPRK leader Kim Jong Un attends the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party, in Pyongyang, the DPRK, Friday, October 10, 2025. (KCNA via AP)
The leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un, has declared that the “militant fraternity” between his country and Russia will “advance non-stop.”
According to the DPRK’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim made the remarks during a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial honoring DPRK soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kursk region to repel an incursion by Ukrainian forces.
“The years of militant fraternity, in which a guarantee has been provided for the long-term development of the bilateral friendship at the cost of precious blood, will advance non-stop,” Kim said, according to KCNA. He added that attempts by “domination and tyranny” would not succeed in obstructing the two nations’ growing partnership.
Military cooperation deepens under mutual defense pact
The ceremony marked the latest public display of Pyongyang’s military support for Moscow, following the signing of a mutual defense pact between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.
Under the agreement, the DPRK reportedly supplied Russia with artillery shells, missiles, and military personnel. Both Kiev and Seoul estimate that the DPRK has deployed more than 10,000 troops to support Russia in the ongoing Ukraine war.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimated in September that roughly 2,000 soldiers from the DPRK have been killed in the fighting. In exchange, Pyongyang is believed to be receiving economic support and advanced military technology from Moscow, including possible assistance with satellite and missile development.
A new multipolar order
China, Russia, and the DPRK are tightening their strategic partnership amid rising tensions with the West. The three nations are aligning across diplomatic, military, and economic fronts, presenting themselves as a united bloc pushing back against US and allied influence.
Moscow and Pyongyang have intensified high-level exchanges, with joint commemorations of historic Soviet-Korean alliances highlighting the depth of their ties. At the same time, Beijing continues to serve as the primary economic partner for both Moscow and Pyongyang, expanding trade, energy cooperation, and infrastructure links despite sanctions pressure.
Military cooperation is also deepening, with Russia and China conducting joint exercises and enhancing security dialogues. While China’s engagement with the DPRK is more restrained, its close partnership with Moscow indirectly strengthens Pyongyang’s position.
Analysts view the alignment as part of a broader shift toward a multipolar order, with Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang united by common adversities and strategic interests.
