Putin holds call with DPRK's Kim, discusses US-Russia talks
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Russian President Vladimir Putin updated DPRK leader Kim Jong Un on his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, while reaffirming military and strategic cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang amid the Ukraine war.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on economic issues at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on August 12, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un, informing him of his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, set to take place in Alaska later this week, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday.
While the DPRK's state news agency KCNA confirmed the call, it made no mention of the Putin-Trump meeting, which is expected to take place on Friday.
According to KCNA, the two leaders discussed the continued development of bilateral ties under a strategic partnership agreement signed last year. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the future, highlighting the growing alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang.
In turn, Putin expressed gratitude to the DPRK for its support in what he described as the "liberation" of the Kursk region in western Russia, currently a zone of conflict in the Ukraine war. He praised the "bravery, heroism, and self-sacrificing spirit" of the Korean People's Army personnel assisting Russian forces.
According to a South Korean intelligence assessment, over 10,000 DPRK troops have already been deployed to support Russian operations in western Russia. The report also suggests that a second deployment may be in preparation, further indicating deepening military coordination between the two countries.
DPRK vows unconditional support for Russia
Last month, the DPRK declared its unconditional and unwavering support for Russia's efforts to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty. During the second round of strategic dialogue between Russia and the DPRK, held in Wonsan on July 12, DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui emphasized her country's commitment to stand by Russia in the face of international pressure.
"The strategic choice and will of the DPRK government is to defend, unconditionally, and invariably support Russia's policy of protecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity," Choe said during her meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, affirming her country's commitment to "opposing the hegemonic intrigues of the imperialists."
She further stated that the DPRK is ready "to diligently implement all articles of the new interstate dialogue," underlining her country’s dedication to expanding bilateral cooperation.
Choe described Lavrov’s visit as a sign of the Russian government and people’s "desire to further deepen the strategic exchange of views between our countries," referring to a growing alliance based on mutual resistance to Western hegemony. She highlighted that the DPRK-Russia relationship has evolved into "unbreakable cooperation."
In turn, Lavrov echoed this sentiment during the talks, referring to the DPRK-Russia relationship as a "military brotherhood," citing the DPRK’s participation in recent combat operations as clear proof of this alliance.
